Liverpool has always been renowned for producing some of football’s brightest young talents. From Ian Rush to Steven Gerrard, the club has consistently nurtured players who go on to leave a lasting mark on the game. Yet when asked to name the most exceptional teenage talent he has witnessed, former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard’s mind immediately returned to one player who shaped an era at Anfield.
Speaking on ESPN, Gerrard was quizzed about the brightest young stars he had seen—past and present—including two of the most talked-about teenage talents in world football today: Lamine Yamal of Barcelona and Kylian Mbappé of Real Madrid. Yet, despite their meteoric rise and the global spotlight on their performances, Gerrard was quick to place Owen at the very top.
“The other two are chasing the Ballon d’Or, the other one got one, so I think you have to respect the fact that Michael Owen has been voted the best player in the world,” Gerrard said.
“I played with him, he was an incredible teenager, so I’d have to say it is Michael Owen,” he continued. “But Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé… wow, they’re going to be two incredible players.”
Gerrard’s words and a Liverpool legend himself underline the extraordinary talent Owen possessed as a teenager. Owen made his senior debut for Liverpool in 1997 at just 17 years old, immediately making an impact by scoring against Wimbledon. He quickly established himself as one of the most dangerous forwards in the Premier League, combining blistering pace with an instinctive finishing ability that belied his age. Gerrard joined Liverpool a year later in 1998, and the pair soon formed one of the most exciting attacking partnerships in English football. Together, they shared the pitch in 228 matches, shaping a golden era of youth-driven success at Anfield.
Owen’s accomplishments at Liverpool were remarkable. Over 297 appearances, he scored 158 goals, becoming the youngest player in Premier League history to reach 100 goals — a milestone that highlighted both his consistency and his natural goalscoring ability. His speed, timing, and precision made him a constant threat, and his performances as a teenager were so advanced that they caught the attention of the football world beyond England.
The pinnacle of Owen’s Liverpool career came during the 2000-01 season. That year, he played a key role in helping the club secure a unique treble of domestic and European silverware: the FA Cup, League Cup, and UEFA Cup. His two late goals against Arsenal in the FA Cup Final are still celebrated by Liverpool fans as one of the defining moments in the club’s history. Owen’s exploits that season culminated in an individual honor that few could imagine: the Ballon d’Or. At just 21 years old, he became the only player to ever win the prestigious award while representing Liverpool, cementing his place among football’s elite.
Gerrard’s reflections on Owen are rooted in first-hand experience. Playing alongside Owen for six years, Gerrard witnessed the prodigy’s rise from a promising teenager to a world-class forward.
“You have to respect the fact that Michael Owen has been voted the best player in the world,”
Gerrard emphasised, highlighting that while today’s young stars like Yamal and Mbappé are sensational, Owen’s achievements as a teenager were unparalleled.
While injuries particularly recurring hamstring problems would later affect Owen’s speed and limit his career longevity, his early years at Liverpool remain unforgettable. Beyond the Ballon d’Or, he also claimed back-to-back Premier League Golden Boot awards in 1997–98 and 1998–99, underlining his consistent ability to find the back of the net. His transfer to Real Madrid in 2004 marked a new chapter in his career, but it also sparked controversy among Liverpool fans, who had grown accustomed to his brilliance at Anfield.
Today, players like Mbappé and Yamal continue to dazzle the footballing world with their speed, technique, and maturity beyond their years. Mbappé has made a sensational impact in La Liga and the Champions League, while Yamal, at just 18, has already broken into Barcelona’s first team, impressing with vision and composure. Yet, in Gerrard’s eyes, their teenage feats though extraordinary do not eclipse the achievements of Owen, whose Ballon d’Or triumph stands as a testament to his status as one of football’s all-time great prodigies.
“Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé… wow, they’re going to be two incredible players,” Gerrard said. “But Michael Owen, as a teenager, was something else entirely.”
In an era dominated by global superstars and rising young talents, Gerrard’s words serve as a reminder of the extraordinary impact Michael Owen had during his teenage years
