Michael Owen sends harsh message to Jude Bellingham over Ballon d'Or talk
Michael Owen believes Jude Bellingham won't be in the same league as Steven Gerrard, Paul Scholes and Frank Lampard any time soon - even if he wins the next Ballon d'Or.
Owen made the claim despite Bellingham's remarkable debut season at Real Madrid. The England international, who arrived from Borussia Dortmund during the summer, has already scored 17 goals and provided five assists for the Spanish giants.
Bellingham's superb form has put him in contention for the Ballon d'Or, but Owen doesn't think that would be enough for him to be considered among England's greatest midfielders. Owen is the most recent Englishman to win the Ballon d'Or, doing so in 2001.
The ex-striker believes Bellingham must be successful over a sustained period to be regarded as a legend of English football. He doesn't even think winning the Champions League, La Liga, Euro 2024 and the Ballon d'Or is enough to join the gallery of greats.
"Jude Bellingham wouldn't automatically be better than Gerrard, Lampard, and Scholes if he wins La Liga, the Champions League and Euro 2024 next year," Owen told Boyle Sports. "He'd win the Ballon d'Or, though!"
Klopp's dream Liverpool line up as last-gasp January transfers rejected
The chances of Bellingham winning all of those three major trophies are slim, but not impossible. Madrid are top of the La Liga table after winning 14 of their first 18 league games this season. They are level on points with Girona, Spain's surprise package.
Madrid also won all six of their Champions League group games and are expected to beat RB Leipzig in their last 16 clash, which takes place in February and March. As for the Euros, England are regarded among the favourites to win the tournament in Germany.
Bellingham is regarded as one of the best footballers in the world at the age of 20 (Getty)Do you agree with Michael Owen? Let us know in the comments below!
Bellingham would become a national hero if he inspires the Three Lions to glory at Euro 2024. England haven't won a major tournament since their 1966 World Cup triumph and fans are dreaming of their long wait to end. They lost the Euro 2020 final to Italy.
Yet Owen is adamant Liverpool's Champions League-winning captain Gerrard, Manchester United's 11-time Premier League winner Scholes and Chelsea's record scorer Lampard will still be in a league of their own - no matter what Bellingham does between now and July.
"Those players did it for years and years and they never dropped their level," added Owen. "They won multiple titles and they were also Champions League winners.
"Jude is amazing and there's no bigger admirer of him than me, but we can't talk about him being more decorated than those players just yet. He needs to do it for five, six, or seven years to be up there with them."
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
