In a stunningly frank assessment that is set to ignite debate amongst football fans, former Liverpool and England star Michael Owen has dissected the career of Wayne Rooney, concluding he fell short of the god-given talent possessed by icons Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Owen, who played alongside Rooney for the national team, didn't hold back during an appearance on the Webby & O'Neill YouTube channel. While heaping praise on Rooney's phenomenal goal-scoring record and powerful playing style, Owen pinpointed a crucial difference.
The 'Natural' Talent Debate
The core of Owen's argument hinges on the definition of 'natural' ability. He places Ronaldo and Messi in a seemingly untouchable category of pure, instinctive genius.
"When you talk about natural talent, and I’ve said this before, would you put Rooney in the same natural talent bracket as Messi? Probably not," Owen stated. He expanded this to include Ronaldo, suggesting their innate skill was simply on another level from the very beginning.
Praise for Rooney's Power and Legacy
This was far from a criticism of Rooney's overall career. Owen was effusive in his praise for the former Manchester United captain's other attributes.
"He was an unbelievable player. Powerful, stocky, could run, could shoot, could head it, could tackle, could pass… he was an unbelievable player," Owen declared, acknowledging Rooney's status as a complete and formidable forward.
He went on to highlight Rooney's incredible achievement of becoming the all-time top scorer for both Manchester United and the England national team, a testament to his consistency and longevity at the very highest level.
Ronaldo and Messi: A Different Category
For Owen, the comparison stops when discussing raw, effortless talent. He views Ronaldo and Messi as freaks of nature, whose basic ability was visibly superior even in their teenage years.
"When you talk about natural talent, I think you have to say that Messi and Ronaldo are just completely natural… It was just so obvious that they were better than anyone else," he explained, setting them apart in a league of their own.
Owen's comments provide a fascinating and nuanced take on player evaluation, separating sheer hard work and phenomenal achievement from the concept of innate, otherworldly talent.
