Ballon d’OR winner 2001: How Michael Owen beat off a star-studded roster to win coveted prize

Owen’s goal-scoring prowess and ability to consistently perform at the highest level made him stand out in 2001, winning him the Ballon d’OR in the process.. His electrifying pace and clinical finishing made him a formidable opponent for any defence, and his contributions to Liverpool and the England national team did not go unnoticed.

Early Life

Born in Chester on the 14th of December, 1979, to former Everton and Chester footballer Terry Owen, Michael was quickly introduced to football at the age of 7, quickly proving an aptitude for the sport. At just 10 years old many of England’s leading scouts were monitoring his progress.

This attention would only grow. At age eight he was selected for his school’s under-eleven side, and by ten years old he had beaten former Deeside Area Primary School alumni and Liverpool legend Ian Rush’s record as he scored 97 goals in a single season. Rush had only managed a paltry 72.

Clearly destined for greatness, Professional football awaited as aged 12 he signed a contract with the Liverpool Youth team where he would develop even further, to the point where he was already good enough to potentially break into the Liverpool first team aged just 16.

His Career Before Winning Ballon d’Or

Just the Fourth Englishman to win the award in its history, Michael Owen became the first English player to win the Ballon d’Or since Kevin Keegan in 1979. The starlet had originally unbroken through into the Liverpool squad, at just 17, scoring on his debut against Wimbledon. At 18 he was already declared the best of a golden generation of English players coming through. This was a generation that contained the likes of Paul Scholes, David Beckham, and Robbie Fowler.

Despite just making two appearances in the 1997 season, come the following year, Owen had not just started to break into the first team but was already a regular. In his breakthrough Premier League season, he scored 18 in 36 games, cementing himself as both the first name on the team sheet and one of the world’s best young players.

His consistency from such a young age was unheard of, scoring 18 in 30 the following season, and proving to anyone who had any remaining doubts, that Michael Owen was a world-class player, at just 19.

Why did he win the Ballon d’Or in 2001?

In the 2001 season, Owen would prove pivotal in Liverpool’s quest to end their 6- year trophy drought, single-handedly winning them the FA Cup with two late goals in the 83rd and 88th minute. He had turned around what had appeared to be a certain defeat for Liverpool at the hands of Arsenal. He was the quintessential big-game player. Cup finals and big league games brought the best out of him. 

He seemed to thrive on pressure, which would be further proven in his frequent talismanic performances in Liverpool’s UEFA Cup run. His brace against Roma would prove enough to progress past the Italian giants, with the explosive striker also scoring a vital goal to overpower Porto in the Quarter-final.

Liverpool’s UEFA Cup run culminated in a 5-4 extra-time victory in the final over Alavés, a side featuring The son of Johan Cruyff, Jordi.  Liverpool had ended Alavés’ astonishing underdog run in the most dramatic of matches.

In the Premier League, Owen would net 19 times in just 29 games as he helped them to a 3rd place finish, securing Champions League football for the next year. 3 would be the magic number for Liverpool, as they would achieve the coveted treble, winning the FA Cup, League Cup, and UEFA Cup.

Sure there are more coveted trebles, but this was not a title-challenging Liverpool side and was a serious achievement for a team that prior to this season hadn’t won a trophy since a league Cup victory in 1994.

Both their UEFA Cup run and FA Cup final victory were largely inspired by Michael Owen’s performances.

His form would go on to translate well at International level, as his 6 goals in 8 games in the 2002 World Cup qualifiers propelled England to World Cup qualification, one of his his most memorable matches coming in this period as he scored a hat-trick in an infamous 5-1 trouncing of Germany

Owen’s goal-scoring prowess and ability to consistently perform at the highest level made him stand out in 2001. His electrifying pace and clinical finishing made him a formidable opponent for any defence, and his contributions to Liverpool and the England national team did not go unnoticed.

These factors, including his breakout season, success in the UEFA Cup, contributions to the England national team, individual achievements, and overall impact on the game, led to Michael Owen being awarded the Ballon d’Or in 2001. It was a recognition of his exceptional performances and status as the most influential footballer on the pitch that year.

Ballon d’Or 2001 Rankings – Top 10

Michael Owen Stats – 2001