MICHAEL OWEN has admitted he had no idea what the Ballon d’Or was – even after winning it.
The former Liverpool striker won the prestigious gong in 2001, beating Real Madrid icon Raul into second place.
Owen played 297 times for the Reds over an eight-year stint, scoring 158 goals.
He later moved to Real Madrid and Manchester United, as well as earning 89 caps for England.
The 45-year-old’s electric pace and lethal finishing made him one of the world’s most feared strikers.
Owen bagged 24 goals in 46 Premier League games in 2001, catching the eye of the Ballon d’Or panel.
The award is handed out annually to Europe’s best player.
But after beating greats including David Beckham, Luis Figo and Thierry Henry to the award, Owen had absolutely no clue what it was.
Owen told talkSPORT: “When Gerard Houllier phoned me and said ‘You’ve won the Ballon d’Or’, I’m like ‘What’s that gaffer’?
“I didn’t know what the award was. I never did because I never even knew what it was.
“Back in those days it was never in our press.”
Owen was just the fourth English player to win the Ballon d’Or, following Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton and Kevin Keegan.
But it wasn’t until he became a Galactico with Madrid in 2004 that he truly understood its significance.
Owen continued: “When I played for Real Madrid, it’s like an MBE, it follows you.
“Whenever they mention your name it’s Ballon d’Or winner.
“Abroad it is so big and it’s only just cottoned on here for the last five or ten years.
“It’s so much bigger in other countries, in foreign countries.
“It quickly sunk in how big it was.”
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