Michael Owen was unable to bite his tongue after spotting a post on social media in which he'd been compared to Wayne Rooney. The former England striker furiously rattled off some of his most impressive career stats as he defended his status in the game.
The post in question actually came from BBC Sport's Match of the Day account as they took to X to pose a seemingly innocuous question: "Who was the better player at the age of 17, Michael Owen or Wayne Rooney?"
Owen, however, took umbrage with the post and set about putting the record straight.
Owen Feels He Was Far Better Than Rooney at 17
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Many would accept that Rooney had a better career than Owen, as he went on to become Manchester United's all-time goalscorer with 253 goals, while also holding the same record with 53 goals for England (until Harry Kane overtook him in 2023). He also won five Premier League titles and the Champions League.
Owen never got his hands on the Champions League, and was only a bit-part player when he won the Premier League as Rooney's teammate in 2011. That said, he still had an impressive career, most notably winning the Ballon d'Or in 2001.
The former Liverpool striker was just 22 years old at the time, making him the second youngest winner of the prize ever, and it's fair to say Owen's best years came in the first half of his career. Rooney also burst onto the scene as a precociously talented teen, which is what inspired the question posed by the Match of the Day account.
Owen clearly thinks, though, that at the age of 17, he was leaps and bounds ahead of Rooney. He made his point online, angrily replying:
"At 17 I scored 18 PL goals (winning the Golden Boot), Wazza scored 6. At 18 I again scored 18 goals (again winning the Golden Boot and coming 4th in The Ballon d’Or), Wazza scored 9. In our opening 7 seasons, Wazza didn’t outscore me once (117 goals v 80). In which time I became the 2nd youngest Ballon d’Or winner ever.
"Injuries hindered me from then on while he sustained his level. Therefore, he’ll go down as a better player than me. But, at 17, please……"
Owen Had Greater Stats But Many Will Prefer Rooney's Style of Play
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You certainly can't argue with the impressive list of stats and achievements Owen lists out. That said, football is about more than just that. Indeed, for many, a player is rated on less tangible ideas, such as the feeling a fan gets from watching a player pull off a great bit of skill, or have the vision to find a beautiful pass.
Owen certainly was a better goalscorer at a young age, but it could be argued that Rooney was a more complete player. He certainly proved to be across the course of his entire career, with the former Real Madrid striker even admitting that.
In the end, as often is the case with player debates, it comes down to personal preference. That's why it's rather odd that Owen would get so heated over the simple question.