What a load of bollocks! Michael Owen claims he didn't know what the Ballon d'Or was when he won it. Are you having a laugh, matey?! This muppet bursts onto the scene, wins football's biggest individual accolade, and expects us to believe he had no idea what it was?!
Owen's ignorance is taking the piss
Apparently, Gerard Houllier had to explain the award to Owen. What a joke! I bet the gaffer was thinking, "What a bellend" when Owen asked, "What's that, gaffer?" Unbelievable. Abroad, the Ballon d'Or is massive, but this mug had no clue. It's only in the last decade or so that it's become a big deal here.
The beautiful game's biggest prize
Owen won the award after a cracking 2000/01 season with Liverpool, banging in 24 goals and helping them win the treble. He finished with 176 points, miles ahead of second-placed Raul and third-placed Oliver Kahn. But to the rest of us, it was clear he was a serious contender. Just not to him, apparently!
England's Ballon d'Or drought
Owen's the last Englishman to win the award, with Frank Lampard coming close in 2005. But since then, we've had fuck all to show for it. Even Jude Bellingham, who came third in 2024, couldn't seal the deal. And now, with young guns like Lamine Yamal, Vinicius Jr., and Kylian Mbappe on the scene, Owen reckons it might be a while before another Englishman wins it.
What it takes to win
According to Owen, you need an exceptional season and multiple trophies to have a shot at the Ballon d'Or. But even then, you've got to be the standout player among the likes of Vinicius Jr. and Mbappe. So, good luck with that, lads!
In the end, Owen's comments are a proper kick in the teeth for football fans. How can a player be so ignorant of the beautiful game's biggest individual prize? It's a disgrace, and it shows just how out of touch some of these overpaid muppets are. What a joke!
