Michael Owen beat insane list of players to win 2001 Ballon d'Or with Liverpool | OneFootball

Isn’t it about time everyone started putting more respect on Michael Owen’s name?

One of English football’s greatest ever goalscorers, Owen was sensational during the early years of his career.

He provided England fans with some of the most memorable moments of the past 30 years, including *that* unbelievable goal against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup, and he’s only one of four English players to have won football’s most coveted individual prize: the Ballon d’Or.

Following in the footsteps of Sir Stanley Matthews, Sir Bobby Charlton and Kevin Keegan (the only Englishman to win the award twice), Owen received the Ballon d’Or in 2001 at the age of 22.

“I couldn’t believe it when I first heard the news. I knew that I was one of the five players in question, but it still seemed unbelievable to me,” Owen said at the time.

“There was also [Francesco] Totti, against who we played recently, Raul and even David Beckham. Several Frenchmen were also in the race.”

He added: “Marco van Basten won it three times. Michel Platini as well. Add my name to that of Franz Beckenbauer, Johan Cruyff, Rivaldo, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan. I am extremely proud.”

How Michael Owen found out he won the 2011 Ballon d’Or

Owen first heard the news from Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier, who was recovering in hospital after undergoing heart surgery.

“In his absence, his assistant Phil Thompson, took over and we were in Italy playing Roma,” Owen recalled years later, per AS.

“An hour before kick-off, Phil told me to go to the changing rooms because the boss wanted to talk to me. It seemed a bit strange to me because I was just about to go out for the warm-up.”

Owen recalled Houllier said: ‘Michael I must tell you something which maybe might make you perform well tonight, but I can only tell you on one condition – you must promise me that you won’t tell anyone. You have been voted the best player in Europe, you are the new Ballon d’Or winner. Congratulations!’

No English player has won the Ballon d’Or since.

Frank Lampard finished second behind Ronaldinho in 2005 but that’s the closest an Englishman has come to winning the football’s most prestigious individual award over the past 21 years.

The list of players Michael Owen beat to win 2011 Ballon d’Or

And when you check out the insane list of players that Owen beat to win the Ballon d’Or, it’s hard not to have even more respect for the achievement.

=25. Roberto Baggio | Points: 1

=25. Steven Gerrard | Points: 1

=25. Rui Costa | Points: 1

=18. Giovane Elber | Points: 2

=18. Gaizka Mendieta | Points: 2

=18. Roberto Carlos | Points: 2

=18. Damiano Tommasi | Points: 2

=18. Sami Hyypia | Points: 2

=18. Emmanuel Olisadebe | Points: 2

=18. Ebbe Sand | Points: 2

=16. Juan Sebastian Veron | Points: 3

=16. Hernan Crespo | Points: 3

=14. Henrik Larsson | Points: 4

=14. Alessandro Nesta | Points: 4

13. Stefan Effenberg | Points: 6

12. David Trezeguet | Points: 7

11. Bixente Lizarazu | Points: 10

=9. Zinedine Zidane | Points: 14

=9. Thierry Henry | Points: 14

8. Andriy Shevchenko | Points: 18

7. Rivaldo | Points: 20

6. Luis Figo | Points: 56

5. Francesco Totti | Points: 57

4. David Beckham | Points: 102

3. Oliver Kahn | Points: 114

2. Raul | Points: 140

1. Michael Owen | Points: 176

Legends everywhere.

What did Michael Owen do in 2001?

If you’ve forgotten what happened in 2001, or in case you’re too young to remember, Owen helped Liverpool win three trophies in 2001: the FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup.

He scored two late goals in one of the most dramatic endings to an FA Cup final ever against Arsenal at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

A few months later, Owen scored a famous hat-trick as English beat Germany 5-1 in a World Cup qualifier in Munich that has gone down in folklore.

And following his exploits at club and international level, Owen was rewarded with the Ballon d’Or in December 2001.