Michael Owen Defends Teenage Supremacy Over Wayne Rooney

Michael Owen has strongly asserted that he was a superior player to Wayne Rooney during their teenage years, highlighting his remarkable goal-scoring feats at 17 and 18, including winning the Premier League Golden Boot twice and finishing fourth in the Ballon d’Or at 18. Owen emphasized that in their first seven seasons, Rooney never outscored him, and noted his early peak before injuries significantly affected his career. This stance was sparked by a social media post from BBC's Match of the Day asking who was better at 17, to which Owen responded with detailed statistics to defend his early career dominance. However, some, like former Chelsea player Scott Minto, believe Owen's public comparisons were unnecessary, recognizing that both players had outstanding but different career trajectories, with Rooney eventually becoming Manchester United's all-time top scorer and maintaining a longer peak. Owen acknowledged Rooney's greater overall career longevity and achievements but insisted that at age 17, there is no debate about who was the more prolific player. This debate continues to divide opinion, with Owen's early brilliance often overshadowed by his later injury struggles, while Rooney's sustained excellence has cemented his legacy.