I defended against Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen – I know who I think was better

Michael Owen and Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney both burst onto the scene as teenagers and have since been compared to one another, with the former claiming he was better at 17

Joleon Lescott has picked Wayne Rooney in his debate with Michael Owen(Image: All Out Football/YouTube)

Ex-Premier League centre-back Joleon Lescott has backed Wayne Rooney in the much-discussed debate involving Michael Owen over who was better at 17.

The 2001 Ballon d'Or recipient ignited the discussion with a bold social media declaration. Both Owen and Rooney burst onto the scene as exceptional English prospects, though separated by five years, and subsequently forged illustrious careers.

Owen, who graced clubs including Liverpool and Real Madrid, boldly declared during a chat with ex-Manchester United team-mate Rio Ferdinand that he was better than Rooney was at 17 years of age. While the Red Devils' record scorer remained tactful when pressed to draw comparisons with Owen, former Manchester City defender Lescott's verdict is unequivocal, having faced both.

"[I'd pick] Rooney," declared Lescott, speaking on In The Mixer, brought to you by Sky Bet. "Wayne was the first player I ever came across that I could visibly see wanted to win more than I did.

"When you play something, you want to win. That's the first time I've seen someone that would go insanely mad if he didn't. Even on the computer, he would break controllers; he had to win. That's a different temperament.

"Having played alongside him, seen him train, when it was game mode, the fiery temperament came out. He would argue every decision. If he lost the ball, he's trying to get it back.

"Wayne's performance against France at 18. I'm torn because I know they're only debating one year, not careers. But that is the best English performance I've ever seen. I've not seen anything like it, especially at that age.

Owen claims he was better than Rooney at 17(Image: Getty)

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"That game... I've seen that game, and I'm just like, 'He's doing everything.' They were the best team in the world at the time: [Patrick] Vieira, [Zinedine] Zidane, [Lilian] Thuram. He's dominated them all.

"You talk about Michael Owen's pace and ability to finish, but Rooney was rapid, lightning fast. That's something he probably doesn't get enough credit for."

Despite choosing Rooney, Lescott did commend Owen. He added: "There are things people underestimate about Michael Owen. He rocked up at Real Madrid, very impressive, Ronaldo, Zidane, all those guys there.

"Because of the teams he's played for, I don't think there is one fan base that gives him the kind of credit, though. Everton fans and United fans love Wayne. Michael doesn't have that foundation of fans that cheer him on.

"It was different back then because there was less social media. There wasn't much with Rooney, but there was even less with Michael Owen. It was highlights and just snippets. You were aware of players and his name, but didn't see him unless it was on Match of the Day or something like that.

"Their ability to affect the game at a young age was crazy. Wayne had a more successful career due to the longevity, but who knows what Michael would have achieved if he had sustained that level?"