Rooney replied sharply to Owen regarding their childhood dispute.

According to The Sun: Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney made a joke towards Michael Owen during the 'Match of the Day' broadcast.

Rooney, 39, and Owen, 45, are two prominent figures in English football who played together for 'Manchester United' for three years.

The discussion about which of these strikers was the better young scorer continues, as both brilliantly started their careers at 17.

Responding to a recent inquiry about who was better at that age, Owen cited facts that indicated his advantages over Rooney in the early years of his career.

The legendary striker first made his mark in 1996 while playing for 'Liverpool', becoming the second youngest Ballon d'Or winner in 2001, and moving to 'Real Madrid' three years later.

Owen wrote: “At 17, I scored 18 goals in the Premier League (won the Golden Boot), Rooney scored 6. At 18, I again scored 18 goals (won the Golden Boot again and finished 4th in the Ballon d'Or), Rooney scored 9. In our first 7 seasons, Rooney never outscored me (117 goals to 80). During that time, I became the second youngest Ballon d'Or winner. Injuries prevented me from continuing, while he maintained his level. So he will remain the better player than me. But at 17, come on…”

The Rooney vs Owen Debate

A similar topic arose during the discussion on 'Match of the Day', when the team that included Rooney examined players with 100 contributions in the Premier League and how quickly they reached that milestone. Owen topped the list, achieving this in 153 games at 22 years and 57 days, while Rooney did so in 187 games at 22 years and 122 days.

Rooney humorously replied:

“Yes, I think it clearly shows that Michael was the better player than me at that age…”

Rooney remains the top scorer for 'Manchester United', with 253 goals in 559 matches. The striker first appeared on the scene in 2004 when playing for 'Everton', and is also the second top scorer for the England national team with 53 goals in 120 matches.

Owen recently shared his feelings that people do not remember how good he was.

He said on Rio Ferdinand's podcast:

“People saw me in my later years when I became worse. And the pain for me is that no one remembers. Only a few recall how I was at 10, 12, 15, 18 years old, and perhaps until 22. I had already 'passed' my peak at 21. It’s a shame, as was there any other 18-year-old who was better than me? I was light-years ahead of everyone in my age group in England…”

Rooney vs Owen until 18

Here's how the careers of Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney looked before they turned 18...

Michael Owen

• Club Matches: 21
• Club Goals: 9
• Club Assists: 5
• International Matches: 0

Wayne Rooney

• Club Matches: 46
• Club Goals: 9
• Club Assists: 2
• International Matches: 8

These debates between Rooney and Owen not only attract the attention of fans but also prompt reflections on how perceptions of players' careers change over time. Both players have left a bright mark in football history, and despite the disputes, their achievements deserve recognition and respect in the world of sports.