Gerrard Picks Owen Over Mbappé and Yamal as Greatest Teenage Talent
Speaking at the launch of the 2025–26 Topps Premier League trading card collection, Steven Gerrard named Michael Owen as the best teenage footballer he’s ever seen—placing him ahead of modern stars Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal.
“Well, the other two are chasing the Ballon d’Or and one’s got one,” Gerrard said. “Michael Owen was voted the best player in the world. I played with him—he was an incredible teenager. I’d have to say Michael Owen. But Mbappé and Lamine Yamal, wow… they’re two incredible players.”
Owen’s meteoric rise began at 17 with a debut for Liverpool in 1996. By the time he turned 20, he had scored 40 Premier League goals in 79 appearances—still the league’s record for a teenager. In 1998, he netted 25 goals in a single calendar year, and his 2000–01 season produced 31 goal involvements (24 goals, 7 assists), powering Liverpool to a UEFA Cup, FA Cup, and League Cup treble. That run culminated in a Ballon d’Or win at just 22, making him one of the youngest ever recipients.
Yamal, 18, has lit up the 2024–25 season with 18 goals, 21 assists, and 244 successful dribbles—more than anyone in Europe’s top five leagues—leading Barcelona to a treble of La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Supercopa de España. Mbappé, 26, has already cemented himself as an all-time great, smashing Real Madrid’s single-season debut goals record with 43 and collecting his first Ballon d’Or.
Gerrard’s reasoning leans heavily on Owen’s early world-class honours, a feat neither Yamal nor Mbappé had matched when he made his comments. For Gerrard, Owen’s ability to carry a top side season after season as a teenager—combining pace, end product, and maturity—remains unmatched.
Reactions to Gerrard’s verdict are split. Some point to Yamal’s flair and Mbappé’s big-game dominance as worthy of top billing; others agree that Owen’s teenage legacy is still the benchmark.
As new generations of teenage prodigies continue to emerge, Gerrard’s words stand as a reminder of the rare mix of brilliance and achievement that made Michael Owen’s youth years so extraordinary.
