Michael Owen has made a stunning admission about his Ballon d'Or win during his time at Liverpool.
Owen, who was playing for Liverpool at the time, bagged the Ballon d'Or in 2001, beating Real Madrid legend Raul and Bayern Munich icon Oliver Kahn to the prestigious individual award.
He received 176 points in the Ballon d'Or voting, 36 more votes than his nearest rival - after inspiring Liverpool to a cup treble, which included the FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup.
The star forward, who scored 24 goals in the 2000/01 season, was just the fourth English player to win the prize after Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton and Kevin Keegan, who won it in back-to-back years in 1978 and 1979.
Despite the prestige the Ballon d'Or carries, Owen claimed he had no idea what the award was.
Michael Owen won the Ballon d'Or in 2001. Image: L'Equipe
Michael Owen won the Ballon d'Or in 2001. Image: L'Equipe
He was informed of his triumph after a phone call from then-Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier, who told him he had won the Ballon d'Or.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Owen recalled: "When Gerard Houllier phoned me and said, 'You’ve won the Ballon d’Or', I’m like 'What’s that gaffer?'
"I didn’t know what the award was. I never did because I never even knew what it was.
"Back in those days it was never in our press."
Michael Owen celebrates scoring a goal for Real Madrid. Image: Getty
Michael Owen celebrates scoring a goal for Real Madrid. Image: Getty
Owen's prolific spell at Anfield alerted Real, who swiftly acquired his services.
And it wasn't until he became a part of the club's 'Galacticos' era that he truly understood the significance of the Ballon d'Or award.
"When I played for Real Madrid, it’s like an MBE, it follows you," he added.
"Whenever they mention your name it’s Ballon d’Or winner.
"Abroad it is so big, and it’s only just cottoned on here for the last five or ten years.
"It’s so much bigger in other countries, in foreign countries.
"It quickly sunk in how big it was."
Owen, however, lasted just one season in Spain before returning to the Premier League with Newcastle United.
He remains the last English player to win the Ballon d'Or, with Jude Bellingham coming in third place in last year's voting.