Where does Owen rank?

Michael Owen becomes the first English winner of the European Footballer of the Year award since Kevin Keegan in 1979.

But where does the Liverpool lad rank among the greats of the game?

Owen joins a limited list of British players to have won the Ballon d'Or since it's inception in 1956.

George Best, Denis Law, Bobby Charlton, Stanley Matthews and Kevin Keegan are the only fellow countrymen to have received the accolade.

The award puts Owen on a par with previous winners like Marco van Basten, Michel Platini, Franz Beckenbauer, Johan Cruyff and Rivaldo.

But how does Owen rate against the best in the world?

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Owen fully deserves the award because he has consistently delivered goals in critical matches for both club and country. Stop focusing on the way he plays but on the results he gets for his team in BIG games. Great players thrive on pressure and no one comes close to Owen in delivering goals when the heat is on. Enough said.
Daryl, Singapore

Owen is one of the few players in the world who has the capacity to perform in a true pressure situation

Alex Flynn, France

Denis Law has to be the greatest British winner of the European player of the year award. His goal scoring record was phenomenal for Manchester United and his first spell with Manchester City.

It is laughable to think that Michael Owen is as good as Denis Law and all the other greats mentioned at the top of this page.
Rhys Stephens, UK

Owen's principal quality is not his pace, his finishing or his skill. Rather, he is one of the few players in the world who has the capacity to perform in a true pressure situation, and like Beckham, equate his temperament to delivery.
Alex Flynn, France

Owen is my idol. Since I saw him scored his first goal for LFC against Wimbledon, I thought that he was going to be my favourite player. I have always wanted to be like him. I play the same position as Owen. I will be 15 next year and hope that I will and can play in an English youth club next year.
Hj Baihaqi Hj Tarif, Negara Brunei Darussalam

Owen is fast, and he is a finisher. Other than that he has nothing to offer English football. If English football wants to rise to the top, we cannot focus on big kick, run and chase football, or football players. We need to bring some of the finer features of football into the English game. At this time I just don't see any English players with that ability. The closest have been Cole, who was ignored by Keegan when he was at his best, Gazza and Beckham.
Leon Hall, USA/English ex-pat

Owen will win more awards for himself, his club and country

Hussein Ahmed, Uganda

I'm not surprised by the lad anymore he's got it all speed, technique, control, heading, and he's still only 22! It's frightening, I just hope that France don't play England while he's in the team.
Stef, France

The award is well deserved. Owen is spectacular and lights up any game he plays in. He has brought repute to the English game, and does a lot of work for kids such as his soccer skills course. Long may he continue!
Steve, England

I am a sports presenter with Uganda Television and Radio Sanyu. There is no doubt the Liverpool and England striker Michael Owen deserved the award. The other nominees for the award had little to show on their season's profiles. You can never compare yourself with a five star player of five trophies for his club. I personally believe Owen will win more awards for himself, his club and country since he is still young. Thank you.
Hussein Ahmed, Uganda

I am a new fan of English football and a big reason for that is Micheal Owen. I never miss a Liverpool or England game when I know Owen is playing. Week after week he makes amazing key goals and his excitement for the game is contagious.
Chris, USA

Owen is good but Beckman is better!

Michael, South Africa

There's no doubt that he is the most feared striker in Europe at the moment and he does perform on the big stage. However he isn't on the same scale as Van Basten or Rivaldo. Owen is not a complete player but in time I believe he will become the worlds best striker.
Rob, England

I write this to help simplify matters for all the people who can't see why Owen got the award and think it was given because of the Germany game. Obviously you have never played the game and probably never get closer to a match than your armchair. First compare Owen's record with any other player in the world. Second break it down and compare his record in BIG games.
Malcolm, England

Owen is good but Beckman is better!
Michael, South Africa

Owen finally has got the monkey off his back with the goal he scored against Argentina in the World Cup and is now fours later is being recognised for his superior talent which he has always had but never recognised. Congratulations young man and I hope you and Beckham can lead us to victory in next years world cup.
Philip O'Connor, Australia

People are far too quick to denounce Owen

Rory Fitzgerald, Ireland

Football, at the end of the day, is all about scoring goals, and if you have a player who can turn quarter chances into goals, then you're onto a winner. Michael Owen is that kind of player. How many players could have scored the two goals against Arsenal in the FA Cup final, conjuring up an otherwise unlikely win, or the two key goals against Roma in Rome? Michael Owen consistently turns draws and losses into wins. Ask Germany.
Ade, England

The award is well deserved. He reminds me a lot of Gary Lineker.
Barry, Ireland

People are far too quick to denounce Owen because they see him as one-dimensional - pace and that is all. Owen, however, always rises to the big occasion and his record of scoring in every England game in which he has started for Sven speaks volumes - as well as goals in Cup finals, and against Bayern, Roma, Barca, Man Utd........etc
Rory Fitzgerald, Ireland

It's debatable whether Owen is as naturally gifted, as some of the other players but there's no denying that he's done the job better than any other this year.

The significance of his FA Cup Final goals could be compared with Diego Maradona's fantastic match-winning World Cup goal against England. It's hard to imagine any other player of the moment being able to turn a game the way he did. He's also delivered for both club and country, and it's been telling that both Liverpool and England have struggled for goals when he's not played.
Val, UK

Whilst Michael Owen may be a great player, it is somewhat ludicrous that Europe's top goal scorer last season did not even get a mention. Granted, that he may play in the Scottish league however, he has also proven his ability on the World stage with Sweden and helped steer them to the finals in Japan. If this award is based on one result, then the whole process needs to be looked at
Glenn, UK

This award astonishes me

Ron, England

I'm thrilled for Michael Owen and glad that he's finally been rewarded for his hard work. He has struggled with severe injury and shown that even though he's only 22 he has always handled the pressure of expectancy and fame incredibly well.

I find it amazing that he wasn't in the last three for the World Player of the Year although I don't think he should have won. With a bit of luck, that will be his next year provided he can remain injury-free. It's nice to see English footballers back in the limelight for the right reasons.
Michelle, England

This award astonishes me. He had one good game against Germany and is quite a good headline grabber, but he doesn't compare to the past list of players mentioned here. These are people who performed at the highest level consistently, not just in the odd game, and who through a mix of skill and vision could control and dictate the pace and flow of the whole game. Owen isn't in this category, and when he doesn't compete in one of Europe's top leagues it's impossible to see how anyone came to this judgement.

It doesn't say much for the judging methods that Raul has not come out on top in either Europe or World player awards after what he has done this year. His is at least a name that could sit up there with Cruyff, Platini and the others.
Ron, England

There is much deliberation between my friends and I as to who is the best in the world at the moment.

I may lean towards Arsenal as a fan but I honestly believe that Henry is the most complete striker. He is strong and skilful, probably the second quickest striker second to Owen and is much more exciting to watch.

Raul is good but he has a world-class midfield consisting of Zidane and Figo to provide each chance on a plate, Henry has to work for every goal. His only weakness is his attitude sometimes he lacks the work rate of Owen, Shearer or Sheringham but in terms of natural talent he is up there with the best.
Joel, London, UK

It's difficult to compare Owen with previous winners such as Cruyff or Rivaldo because while they may have a more rounded game, he is an out and out striker. It's like comparing a fly half with a winger in rugby. They have different functions. Nevertheless, Owen is rapidly becoming the kind of one-in-a-generation striker and while it's very nice have fancy playmakers like Zidane in your team, unless you have someone as ruthless as Owen, you will win nothing.
Ian Maddison, Wirral, UK

Michael Owen is a fantastic player

Ashley Davies, England

All the greats have very different styles, but what they have in common is the ability to affect games played at the highest level. Owen joined this elite group for me during the 2001 FA Cup final; a game Arsenal would have won if it were not for Owen.
Pete Marley, UK

Michael Owen is a fantastic player; without doubt the brightest prospect to come out of England in a long time. He is a prodigious talent, who could in time be one of the best strikers ever. The people who deliver the European Footballer of the Year Award are no mugs, and I haven't read or seen anyone yet say that Owen didn't deserve the award.
Ashley Davies, England

No one can doubt that Michael Owen is an outstanding goalscorer, and we cannot forget that he is still so young and probably has a lot more to offer. However, I don't think he has that world-class influence in matches compared to that of players such as Zidane, Figo, Schevchenko and Del Piero. Perhaps it is just his time, but surely Europe could have found a more worthy winner this year.
Javed, UK

It's well deserved. Technically there are better players but Owen is a match winner and an exciting player. Unlike many players, he seems very humble and honest and I think that is appreciated by many. He's won it because he has had the biggest impact on the biggest stage.
Elliot Renton, England