Pundit and 2001 Ballon d’Or winner Michael Owen. — AFP Photo

Paul Kennedy

If you ever feel down and need a laugh, I recommend you Google some of the bizarre things said by Michael Owen when commentating on football matches.

They are comedy gold. Nuggets of useless information that can’t help bring a smile to your face.

Gems like: "If there's a bit of rain about, it makes the surface wet" and "Footballers these days often have to use their feet" are two corkers that spring to mind.

“That shot is impossible. I saw Yaya Toure do it once,” and “It’s definitely hit Defoe’s hand as it’s gone in, but it’s not a handball for me,” are two more absolute pearls of wisdom.

As a result of some of his utterings, he’s become a bit of a laughing stock in the world of punditry and as far as Liverpool supporters are concerned, Owen will never be truly loved due to the fact, in part, because he left in his prime, but mainly because he later went on to play for bitter rivals Manchester United.

Now he’s irked them once more, with his remarks about star-striker, Mo Salah, saying that despite his remarkable goal contributions this season, the Egyptian has not done enough to win football’s top individual prize, the Ballon d’Or.

I hate to say it, but I agree 100 per cent with Owen on this one. He’s speaking sense when he said that despite Liverpool being odds-on favourite to win the Premier League, getting knocked out of the Champions League will prove costly.  

Owen said: “It’s going to be dependent on what’s going on at club level, I would have said Mo Salah, but getting knocked out of Europe by PSG, even if Liverpool go on to win the Premier League, I can’t see that being enough, which is a shame, but you’ve got to tick every box.

“You’ve got to be an outstanding player at an outstanding club and an outstanding national team. All your stars have got to align, and I just think for Salah, who obviously deserves one, with Liverpool only winning the Premier League, it won’t be enough.”

Salah has been a revelation for Liverpool this season, it’s arguably his best since he signed from Roma in 2017.

And even if he does end it with a Premier League winner’s medal around his neck, it’s not enough in my book to win the Ballon d’Or.

Another comment Michael made before a ball was kicked this season also had some supporters splitting their sides with laughter.

On August 16, 2024, he tweeted: “Manchester City will struggle to make the top four this season.”

Right now, City are in a four-way scrap with Chelsea, Brighton and Newcastle for that final Champions League spot.

Seems to me we need to start taking Owen’s comments a little bit more seriously. — VNS