Don't compare me to Yamal, Mbappe — Ballon d'Or winner Michael Owen

Michael Owen has pushed back against comparisons between himself and modern-day young talents, like Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe, and others.

Owen exploded onto the Premier League stage as a 17-year-old for Liverpool, quickly becoming a global sensation with his blistering pace and ruthless finishing.

By the age of 18, he had already won two Premier League Golden Boot prizes and scored one of the most iconic World Cup goals ever against Argentina in 1998.

During a candid discussion with former Manchester United teammate Rio Ferdinand, the ex-Liverpool man was asked:

"Where will you say 18-year-old Michael Owen sits when compared to the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Rashford, Lamine Yamal, and Wayne Rooney?"

Owen was quick to dismiss the comparison, expressing his disbelief at the notion.

“Where does that come from? Who watches those players as teenagers and compares them to me? I don't see anybody who could be compared to me at that same stage.

"The only person you can possibly compare me to in our country is Wayne Rooney.”

Owen won the prestigious Ballon d'Or in 2021, a feat yet to be achieved by any of the young stars who have been compared to him.

His career trajectory then took him to Spanish giants Real Madrid in 2004. However, his time there was short-lived, leading to a £16.8 million move to Newcastle United. Recurring muscular injuries plagued his career at Newcastle, as well as later at Manchester United and Stoke City, ultimately forcing the forward to hang up his boots in 2013.