Former Liverpool and Real Madrid striker Michael Owen has reignited a football debate after responding to a social media post comparing him with Wayne Rooney, insisting he was the superior player at the age of 17. Both men rose to stardom as teenage prodigies—Owen bursting onto the Premier League scene with Liverpool in 1997 and Rooney making headlines at Everton in 2002.
Owen highlighted his early achievements, noting that at 17 he scored 18 Premier League goals to win the Golden Boot, while Rooney managed six at the same age. He further pointed out that by 18 he had repeated his 18-goal tally, won another Golden Boot, and finished fourth in the Ballon d’Or, whereas Rooney scored nine. Owen also reminded fans that in their first seven seasons, he outscored Rooney 117 goals to 80, and during that period became the second-youngest Ballon d’Or winner in history.
While acknowledging Rooney’s longevity and consistency, Owen admitted injuries curtailed his own career trajectory, conceding that Rooney will ultimately “go down as a better player.” However, his sharp rebuttal—ending with the phrase “But, at 17, please…” —has fueled fresh debate among fans over which English striker shone brightest in their teenage years.