Michael Owen reveals that he did not know what Ballon d’On was when he won it

Michael Owen admitted that he had no idea what the balloon d’Or was – even after winning it.

The first Liverpool Striker won the prestigious gong in 2001 and defeated Real Madrid -ICON Raul to second place.

2

2

Owen Played 297 times before the Reds over a stint of eight years and scored 158 goals.

He later moved to Real Madrid And Manchester UnitedAs well as earning 89 caps for England.

The electric pace of the 45-year-old and the deadly finish made him one of the most feared strikers in the world.

Owen took 24 goals in 46 Premier League matches in 2001 and attracted the attention of the Ballon d’Or Panel.

The prize is distributed annually to the best player in Europe.

But after beating big ones, including David BeckhamLuis Figo and Thierry Henry For the prize, Owen had absolutely no idea what it was.

Owen said Talksport: “When Gerard Houllier called me and said:” You won the balloon d’or, I am like “What is that Gaffer”?

“I didn’t know what the price was. I never did it because I never even knew what it was.

Best Online Casinos – Top sites in the UK

“In those days it was never in our press.”

Owen was just the fourth English player who won the balloon d’Or, after Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton And Kevin Keegan.

But only when he became a galactico with Madrid in 2004 did he really understand its meaning.

Owen continued: “When I played for Real Madrid, it is like a MBE, it follows you.

“When they call your name, it’s the balloon d’Or winner.

“It is so great abroad and it has only been here for the past five or ten years.

“It’s so much bigger in other countries, abroad.

“It quickly sunk in how big it was.”