Summary:
- The “who was better at 17” debate between Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney has been resurrected by Owen’s recent comments.
- Rooney praised Owen, calling him a player he looked up to, while diplomatically backing himself.
- While Owen peaked early with a Ballon d’Or, Rooney had greater longevity and more silverware.
Who was the better teenage prodigy, Michael Owen or Wayne Rooney? This particular question has been buzzing around social media in recent days after Owen boldly backed himself over his former England teammate.
Rooney: “I Used to Pretend to Be Michael Owen”
The debate started when Owen, speaking on Rio Ferdinand’s podcast, reflected on his early years.
I saw Wazza got asked who was the best out of us at the age of 17 or 18. And I did smile. The only person you could possibly compare me to in our country is Wayne Rooney.
When BBC Match of the Day addressed the same question online, the former Liverpool striker doubled down, declaring he had the edge.
Rooney, now hosting his own show, gave a more measured response. On The Wayne Rooney Show, he admitted he was flattered by the comparisons but stopped short of picking sides.
Michael and I are very different players. I used to go out on the street and pretend to be Michael Owen — even though he played for Liverpool.
He went on to call Owen’s comments “fair”.
Of course, he’s going to back himself. I’d back myself. But I’d never judge myself against Michael Owen because he’s someone I actually looked up to and had the pleasure of playing alongside [for England and Manchester United].
Undeniably Remarkable Careers
Both players were deemed absolute stars as teenagers, with Owen bursting onto the scene with Liverpool in the late 1990s, famously scoring for England at the 1998 World Cup when he was just 18. Four years later, in 2021, he won the Ballon d’Or, a particularly rare feat for an Englishman.
Injuries, unfortunately, cut short his peak years, and his career eventually ended with a total of 222 goals from 482 club appearances, including 40 international goals, the last coming at 27.
Rooney, six years Owen’s junior, built a longer, steadier career. He racked up 313 club goals across Everton, Manchester United, DC United, and Derby, becoming United’s all-time leading scorer with 253. His 53 goals for England stood as the national record until Harry Kane passed him. Unlike Owen, Rooney added a Champions League medal and five Premier League titles to his collection.
Still, when the focus is narrowed to their teenage years, Owen makes a strong case, pointing out he was never outscored by “Wazza” in their opening seven seasons.
The debate may never be settled, but one thing is certain: both men changed English football before they were even old enough to rent a car.