Michael Owen was left seething after a Ballon d'Or red carpet reporter forgot that the former Liverpool striker won the Golden Ball in 2001 — the last Englishman to win the award

Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen was left seething after having to remind a Ballon d’Or red carpet reporter that he had once won the Golden Ball.

Owen, 46, was considered one of the best strikers of his generation, bursting onto the scene in 1998, aged just 18, and won the Ballon d'Or in 2001, only three years later, following standout performances for the Reds and England. He scored 262 goals in club and international competition despite suffering his fair share of injury struggles across his career.

Naturally, as a former Ballon d’Or winner and the last Englishman to win the Golden Ball, it was no surprise to see Owen be invited to the 2026 ceremony, held in London. Reporters lined up along the red carpet, hoping to speak to footballers past and present, but no Liverpool players were shortlisted for the award.

However, one suffered an embarrassing gaffe after they seemingly forgot that Owen had won the Ballon d’Or in the early 2000s.

“What was your best standing in Ballon d’Or when you were active?” the reporter asked Owen.

Unexpectedly, the question left the Liverpool Great far from amused. “Well… I won it in 2001,” Owen sharply responded.

The interaction quickly went viral on social media, with the reporter being told to “do your homework!”

“’You did, right.’ Trying to save it like he already knew,” one fan replied, mocking the reporter’s response to Owen.

“Michael Owen was insane at his peak and that guy has no idea,” another responded. “Bit of research wouldn't have gone amiss,” a third replied.

By the end of the night, it was Englishman Harry Kane who joined Owen in the exclusive club. England captain and Bayern Munich striker Kane became the fifth Englishman to win the Golden Ball, snapping a 25-year dry spell for the country.

Before Kane’s crowning moment was announced, Owen had already tipped him to win. "Of course, my heart says Kane. I’d like a new English partner," Owen stated to DAZN.

France and Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe finished runner-up, followed by teenage sensation Lamine Yamal.

"Mbappe hasn’t won anything really in terms of team trophies, but top scorer in La Liga, top scorer in the Champions League, top goalscorer in the World Cup. And it is an individual award," Owen explained on Mbappe’s chances pre-ceremony.

Yamal fell short despite a glittering campaign with Barcelona, capped by a World Cup win with Spain. "Literally every time I watch him play, I nearly fall off the sofa. He’s just so good, isn’t he?" Owen said.