Gerrard Endorses Owen's Skill Over Yamal and Mbappe's in Teenage Prodigy Discussion
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In the 2024-25 season, Hansi Flick's side made history by winning LaLiga, the Supercopa de Espana, and the Copa del Rey. However, the spotlight has shifted towards a comparison of three extraordinary footballers from different eras: Michael Owen, Kylian Mbappé, and Lamine Yamal.
Steven Gerrard, a former teammate of both Owen and Mbappé, has expressed his admiration for the trio. According to Gerrard, Owen was an "incredible teenager" and he played with him. In contrast, Gerrard believes Michael Owen was a better player as a teenager than both Mbappé and Yamal.
Owen's accomplishments as a teenager are undeniable. At 22 years and 4 days old, he became one of the youngest winners of the prestigious Ballon d'Or in 2001. During the same year, he scored the most Premier League goals by a teenager in a single calendar year, with 25. These achievements, coupled with his 31 goal contributions (24 goals and 7 assists) in the 2000-01 season, helped Liverpool win multiple trophies, including the UEFA Cup, FA Cup, and EFL Cup.
Comparatively, neither Mbappé nor Yamal have matched Owen's Ballon d'Or triumph or his sheer volume of teenage goal contributions by comparable ages. Mbappé, who had a successful debut season at Los Blancos, found the back of the net 43 times in all competitions, but he did not win the Ballon d'Or as a teenager.
Yamal, a rising star, completed more dribbles (244) than any other player in Europe's top five leagues in the 2024-25 season and plundered 18 goals and registered 21 assists. However, his teenage accolades are yet to match those of Owen.
In summary, by both Ballon d'Or status and goal contributions, Michael Owen's teenage career remains superior to Mbappé's and Yamal’s at this stage.
| Player | Ballon d'Or as Teenager | Teenage Goal Contributions | Notable Achievements as Teenager | |-----------------|------------------------|----------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------| | Michael Owen | Won at 22 years, 4 days | 31 (24 goals, 7 assists) | Multiple trophies with Liverpool, Ballon d'Or winner | | Kylian Mbappé | No Ballon d'Or as teen | Fewer than Owen at similar age | Highly talented, but no Ballon d'Or win as a teenager| | Lamine Yamal | No Ballon d'Or as teen | Fewer than Owen | Rising star, but no major teenage accolades yet |
Gerrard, who finished third in the Ballon d'Or rankings in 2005, expressed his respect for Owen by stating that "So I think you'd have to respect the fact that Michael Owen has been voted the best player in the world." Gerrard also mentioned that "Well, the other two are chasing the Ballon d'Or and one's got one," referring to Owen having won the Ballon d'Or.
In conclusion, Michael Owen's teenage years shine brighter than Mbappé and Yamal's in football history, as he won the Ballon d'Or at a young age and made significant contributions to Liverpool's success.
- The debate about the best footballers from different eras continues, with Michael Owen's teenage years in the spotlight for their exceptional performance and achievements, surpassing both Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal in terms of the Ballon d'Or win and goal contributions.
- Interestingly, while Lamine Yamal's dribbling skills and goal contributions in the 2024-25 season were impressive, they don't come close to Michael Owen's teenage accomplishments, such as becoming the youngest Ballon d'Or winner and making significant contributions to Liverpool's trophy haul.
- As a rising star in European leagues, Lamine Yamal still has room for improvement to match the teenage legacy set by Michael Owen, who made history with his Ballon d'Or win, significant goal contributions, and helping Liverpool secure multiple trophies in the 2000-01 season.
