Michael Owen is valuing his own career and believes his achievements at Liverpool underestimate his youth and celebrates Wayne Rooney’s accomplishments<\/h2>\n
\n<\/figure><\/span>Michael Owen is proud of his achievements<\/span>(Image: Rio Ferdinand present)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n
Michael Owen confidently states that he is a better young man than Wayne Rooney. Owen was a Liverpool teen phenomenon, and began consistently scoring goals at the age of 17.<\/p>\n
The English striker was prolific in his early days with the Reds, who enjoyed the best years of his career. Owen scored 158 goals in 297 appearances for the club over eight years, winning Barondoor in 2001 as the 22-year-old.<\/p>\n
He brought that form to international football and registered 40 goals in England’s 89 appearances. This is a record that helps you compare it to Rooney. The Manchester United legend began in Everton, where he entered the scene as an exciting, raw, 16-year-old talent.<\/p>\n
Rooney, as an 18-year-old, earned a \u00a325 million move to United, becoming the club’s record-breaking goal scorer. He also comfortably passed Owen’s tally of 150 Premier League goals, reaching 208, his number reached 53 from 120 games.<\/p>\n
read more: Pep Guardiola’s warning about Jadon Sancho was ignored by a man<\/span><\/span>read more: Liverpool News: Newcastle Stars respond to Alexander Isaac’s transfer as fresh snubs are revealed<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Both were undoubtedly great English strikers, but the question of who was superior at a young age has been raised on social media. The match that day raised the question at X: “Who was the better player, 17-year-old Michael Owen or Wayne Rooney?”<\/p>\n
Owen replied: “At the age of 17 he scored 18 goals (earned Golden Boots), and Watza scored 6.<\/p>\n
“At that time I was the second youngest Barondoor or winner ever. The injury hindered me while he kept the level.<\/p>\n
\n
\n<\/figure><\/span>Wayne Rooney broke through with Everton as a teenager<\/span>(Image: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Owen joined Real Madrid in 2004, but spent only a year in Spain, but later influenced his career, taking him to Newcastle, United and Stoke. He expanded his career rating this week on the Rio Ferdinand Presents Podcast.<\/p>\n
“Are you another 18 years old near me at 18? I had forgotten something lighter in my age group.<\/p>\n
“I joined the Liverpool team and won the Golden Boots at the age of 17. Forget all the achievements. I’ve never won two Golden Boots in the Premier League as a 17- and 18-year-old.”<\/p>\n
\n
\n<\/figure><\/span>Michael Owen was a goalscoring machine at Liverpool when he was a young man.<\/span>(Image: Michael Steel\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
He added: “I divided my career into two, because I almost never loved it because Liverpool and Madrid, and then I wasn’t the same. I loved it.<\/p>\n
“But I’m not me. I’m not me. I know what I was when I was 18. I know what I was when I was 30.<\/p>\n
“Can’t you change your name and think about something and call something else? I don’t want you to remember me like this.<\/p>\n
Join the new WhatsApp community and receive a daily amount of mirror football content. We also treat community members with special offers, promotions and advertising. If you don’t like our community, you can always check out. If you are interested, you can read the privacy notice.<\/p>\n
\n
\n
Sky Sports Discount Premier League and EFL Packages<\/p>\n
\n
This article contains affiliate links. You will receive sales commissions generated from sales. learn more<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\u00a349<\/p>\n
\u00a335<\/p>\n
Sky<\/p>\n
Get the deal here<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Sky has significantly reduced the prices of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundles ahead of the 2025\/26 season, saving its members to \u00a3336, and offering over 1,400 live matches in the Premier League, EFL and more.<\/p>\n
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League matches next season, showing an even greater increase of up to 100.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
![\"Michael](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article35859485.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_michael-owen-talkingJPG.jpg\")
<\/figure>![\"Wayne](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article35042026.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Wayne-Rooney-Everton-2003.jpg\")
<\/figure>![\"Liverpool's](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article35786961.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_GettyImages-1111111.jpg\")
<\/figure>![\"Content](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article33404045.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s510b\/0_Sky-Factbox.jpg\")
<\/div>\n