Wayne Rooney has responded to Michael Owen's claim that he was the better player at 17 years of age.
Both men burst onto the scene as teenagers on Merseyside, Rooney with Everton and Owen at Liverpool.
Rooney made the switch to Manchester United aged 18, going on to win five Premier League titles and a Champions League at Old Trafford.
Meanwhile Owen scored 158 goals in 297 appearances for Liverpool, later joining Real Madrid before injuries plagued the rest of his career.
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But the former Liverpool frontman boldly claimed on X that he was better than Rooney during their early years.
Owen wrote: "At 17 I scored 18 PL goals (winning the Golden Boot), Wazza scored 6.
"At 18 I again scored 18 goals (again winning the Golden Boot and coming 4th in the Ballon d’Or), Wazza scored nine.
"In our opening seven seasons, Wazza didn’t outscore me once (117 goals v 80). In which time I became the 2nd youngest Ballon d'Or winner ever.
"Injuries hindered me from then on while he sustained his level. Therefore, he’ll go down as a better player than me. But, at 17, please..."
Rooney made his professional debut in 2002, before he scored a famous last-minute winner against Arsenal just five days before he turned 17.
Owen had broken through six years earlier and fired Liverpool to a League Cup, FA Cup, UEFA Cup treble in 2000/01.
Speaking on the BBC's Wayne Rooney Show, Manchester United's all-time record goalscorer responded to Owen's comments.
He said: "Michael Owen at 17, 18 was incredible.
"I used to go out on the streets and pretend to be him, I'd pretend to be Michael Owen, even though he played for Liverpool.
"I completely understand what he's saying but we're two completely different footballers and Michael Owen for a three, four-year period, was probably the best centre-forward in the world.
"Unfortunately, he did get his injuries and he probably couldn't adapt his game maybe as well as I could."
Owen later joined Newcastle United, where he struggled with injuries, before moving to Manchester United.
He scored a famous stoppage-time winner in the Manchester derby during his first season and the opener in the League Cup final win over Aston Villa.
Owen went on to win a Premier League title the following year.
Rooney added: " I'd never judge myself against Michael Owen because he's someone that I actually looked up to and had the pleasure of playing alongside.
"Obviously I played with him for England and then later on in his career at Manchester United. I was delighted for him because he came to United and that's a massive move for him, playing for Liverpool, he got a Premier League medal.
"Michael can come across a little bit boring - he's one of the funniest people you'll meet."
Topics: Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen, Football, Premier League, Manchester United, Liverpool, Man Utd
James Taylor