When you think of the greatest to ever play the game, Lionel Messi’s name is usually right at the top of the list.
Despite Liverpool’s recent struggles, it is hard to argue that they do not have plenty of quality in their squad.
That has not always been the case. It is only really in recent years that the Reds have built a squad packed with star players. Before that, it was more common to see just one or two standout names in a line-up.
In the past, one Liverpool ace stood out as one of the greatest talents to emerge from the ranks, with the Reds appearing to have unearthed their next superstar.
Wayne Rooney once said this player was better than Lionel Messi at one stage. That is quite a statement, and it shows just how highly rated he was back then.
Wayne Rooney claims Michael Owen was better than Lionel Messi
Messi is considered one of the greatest players to ever step on to a pitch, with his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo still a topic of endless debate.
Liverpool have had some fantastic players over the years, but few would argue that anyone from the club has ever reached that level – or so most people would believe.
Rooney, a lifelong rival of the Reds, recently gave Michael Owen incredibly high praise, stating his belief that Owen was once better than Messi.
When asked for a Daily Mail TikTok video about which of the two was the superior “wonderkid”, he answered: “It’s tough. But until 20, I would say Michael Owen.”
In his inaugural full season with Liverpool in 1997/98, Owen clinched the Premier League Golden Boot. At 18, he became the youngest player to ever achieve this feat, a record that remains unbroken.
Winning it again the next season only further underscored his talent, supporting this argument.
How Michael Owen’s early numbers compare to Lionel Messi’s
Messi’s overall career puts him well ahead of Owen, but when it comes to their early years, the numbers do show an interesting story.
Even without exact assist numbers for that period, the goal totals alone are quite telling. Owen actually edges Messi in this category.
The Briton netted 54 goals in 100 appearances before his 20th birthday, while the GOAT contender recorded 26 in 70 over the same period.
That does not mean Owen was the better player overall, but it does highlight just how high his level was at such a young age.
Rooney’s claim is bold and leans more on potential than output. But when you look at how quickly injuries limited Owen’s career trajectory compared to what he showed in those first few years, it is not as far-fetched as it sounds.
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