Steven Gerrard insists that his former teammate in Liverpool and England, Michael Owen, was better than Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal in adolescence.
While the 2025 gold ball race intensifies, Real Madrid and Barcelona have suitors among nominees, with Mbappé and Yamal. Yamal is only 18 years old and hopes to become the youngest player to win the Ballon d'Or. In 1997, Ronaldo won the prize at 21.
The Golden Ball race intensifies
Gerrard, however, believes that his former teammate Owen was even better than the two nominees in adolescence. The former English striker won the Ballon d'Or in 1999, at just 22 years old, and scored 40 goals in 79 games before being 20 years old.
Mbappé and Yamal in the running this year
Gerrard told ESPN: ” The other two are in the race for the Ballon d'Or, and one of them obtained it. We must therefore respect the fact that Michael Owen was elected best player in the world. »»
“I played with him. He was an incredible teenager. So I would say that Michael Owen is the best. But I would say: Mbappé and Lamine Yamal, Waouh, these are two incredible players. »»
The Ballon d'Or ceremony will take place on September 22 in Paris.
