Gerrard’s Insights on Young Football Talents
In a recent interview with ESPN, Steven Gerrard, the iconic Liverpool midfielder, shared his thoughts on the teenage sensations Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé. However, he believes another former Liverpool star, Michael Owen, had a superior impact as a youth player.
Ballon d’Or Contenders
The discussion comes as Yamal, the 18-year-old Barcelona prodigy, stands a strong chance of winning the Ballon d’Or this year, which would make him the youngest recipient of the award in history. Previously, Ronaldo achieved this feat at 21 years old in 1997.
Currently, at 26, Mbappé is also a contender for the same prestigious title. Gerrard and Owen shared the pitch at Liverpool for six years following Owen’s debut in 1996, during which he became known for his remarkable scoring ability from a young age.
Gerrard on Owen’s Legacy
Gerrard noted, “While both Yamal and Mbappé are outstanding players chasing the Ballon d’Or, we must acknowledge that Michael Owen has already clinched that honor. He was phenomenal as a teenager, which is why I’d say he stands out. Yamal and Mbappé are definitely impressive talents though.”
Owen’s Record-Breaking Achievements
Owen holds the records for the highest number of goals scored by a teenager in the Premier League, netting 40 goals in just 79 games before he turned 20. He also set the record for the most goals by a teenager in a single calendar year with 25 goals in 1998. His accolades include winning the League Cup, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup in 2000-01 with Liverpool and becoming the youngest English player to win the Ballon d’Or since Kevin Keegan in 1979 at the age of 22.
Emerging Talents: Yamal and Mbappé
Since debuting for Barcelona at just 15 in 2023, Yamal has already made a mark with 14 goals and 22 assists across competitions. Meanwhile, Mbappé made headlines at the age of 19 by scoring in the FIFA World Cup final, leading France to victory in 2018 and making him the youngest player to do so since Pelé.
This conversation encapsulates the ongoing debate about the level of talent emerging in football today compared to previous generations.
