Brazil legend Pele was convinced one of England's brightest talents could go on to become the finest player on the planet. One of the greatest footballers to ever grace the pitch, the three-time World Cup winner could've been right, had injuries not got in the way.
The late forward's claim came all the way back in 2001 when he was discussing the top contenders for the following year's World Cup. The Three Lions were disappointed to be knocked out in dramatic fashion in the 1998 competition, but were hopeful of giving a better account of themselves in South Korea and Japan.
Pele was sure the British nation had a good chance of making it far in the biggest international tournament and picked out two of their top players who could be viewed among the most talented on the planet.
Pele Predicts 'Best in the World' Michael Owen
Pele during a press conference
During his late 2001 interview with BBC Sport, the Brazilian icon was quick to lavish praise on Liverpool forward Michael Owen. The English talisman had already been crowned as the Ballon d'Or winner that year, becoming the first British winner since Kevin Keegan in the 1970s.
An explosive striker with a keen eye for goal, Owen burst onto the scene as a teenager for both club and country and was recognised for his efforts in 2001. Despite winning the Golden Ball, the Chester-born attacker wasn't quite the best on the planet in Pele's eyes. He could, however, reach that level. The retired forward claimed:
"There is no doubt that Owen can become the best in the world. He is still young, but he has experience and he is quick."
Also including David Beckham among the world's best, Pele didn't think either Englishman was quite at the level of France's Zinedine Zidane. He added: "Beckham is a different kind of player. He is more technical and can set up the team and the game. Both of them can be mentioned among the best in the world, but if I had a vote for world player of the year, I would stay with Zinedine Zidane."
Michael Owen's Career Interrupted by Injuries
Former England 2002 World Cup Star Declared Bankrupt
Owen's first big injury came at the age of just 19, as he suffered a ruptured hamstring. This would cause him many problems throughout the rest of his playing days, as the explosive forward played through the injury initially.
The other big injury he suffered came in 2006, as Owen tore his anterior cruciate ligament. That particular injury kept him out of action for around a year. In between those two prolonged spells on the sidelines, he picked up recurring muscle problems. These significantly impacted his game, as Owen could no longer use his incredible speed to his advantage.
Speaking about his injury hell, the striker-turned-pundit opened up to the Daily Mail about how he felt he would add a second Ballon d'Or to his trophy cabinet after lifting the first. However, his fitness problems, and resulting mental block, stopped that from becoming reality. He stated:
"At 21? Oh, I definitely thought I could win another Ballon d’Or. I still didn’t know injuries would compromise me so much. But looking back, even then, I was terrified to run at top speed.
"From 10 to 17, I believe there wasn’t anyone in the world as good. By 18, I was scoring goals at a World Cup. By 21, the Ballon d’Or. But honestly, I was better at 19. That was when I suffered a crippling injury. Everything comes back to that."
After leaving Liverpool for Real Madrid in 2004, the former England international never quite reached the lofty heights he did in his early years. His availability became inconsistent and unreliable, and his stints back in England with Newcastle, Manchester United and Stoke City were hardly anything to shout about. As quickly as he burst onto the football scene, Owen dropped off the radar.