Summary

  • The Owen v Rooney debate and the world's best teenage footballers

  • Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

  • Thomas Tuchel says he wants England to use long throw-ins and long balls

  • Home nations in action for World Cup qualifiers

  • All 24 England players train before flying to Belgrade to face Serbia on Tuesday (19:45 BST)

  • Scotland face Belarus in Group C this evening (19:45) live on BBC Scotland and BBC iPlayer

  • Wales host Canada in friendly on Tuesday (19:45)

The world's best teenage footballers

Live Reporting

Emily Salley, Sam Drury, Ben Ramsdale and Saffie Yates

  1. Get Involved - which nominees should be inducted into PL Hall of Fame?

    Click 'Get involved' at the top of this page

    Hall of Fame - Neville for the 8 title wins, Campbell for the 500+ appearances and 2 titles, Fabregas for the 108 assists and 2 titles.

    Chris K, St Albans

    Most deserving from PL legacy is probably Neville, but Hazard and Toure are comfortably the best 2 on the list overall.

    Adam Backhouse, Split, Croatia

    How has Gary Neville not been inducted yet? Best right-back England have had. I’m a Wrexham fan, but also Liverpool, so United aren't my favourite team but you have to respect quality, and that lad was.

    Ben Eastwood, Deeside

  2. Are Premier League debutants getting younger?

    Jordan Butler
    BBC Sport journalist

    Teenagers have been gracing Premier League pitches since the competition’s inception in 1992. In fact, some 53 teens made their top-flight bows during the league’s inaugural season.

    But have Premier League debutants gradually been getting younger?

    The first 16-year-old to feature in the Premier League was Sheffield Wednesday winger Mark Platts. He replaced Chris Waddle during a 2-1 win over Wimbledon at Hillsbrough in 1996.

    In the years to follow England internationals James Milner, Wayne Rooney, Aaron Lennon and Jack Wilshere also made their first top-flight appearances before the age of 17.

    However, 15-year-olds making Premier League debuts is a far more recent phenomenon.

    Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri was the first in September 2022 and he remains the youngest, for now. He was followed by Leicester City winger Jeremy Monga in April 2025 and the most recent is another Hale End graduate Max Dowman, who made his debut against Leeds a few weeks ago.

    So the simple answer is yes, Premier League debutants are getting younger, and with Manchester United inviting 14-year-old winger JJ Gabriel to train with the first-team this season it might not be long before the record is broken again.

    A list of the three players to make their Premier League debuts at the age of 15; Ethan Nwaneri, Max Dowman and Jeremy Monga

  3. Get Involved

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    Owen clearly better at 17-18 and went on to win the Ballon d’Or at 22. Rooney kept his high standard for a longer time granting him the majority’s vote. Best teenage sensation ever is Pelé. I can’t believe the question is asked, he made Brazil World Champions at 17.

    Oden Jonson, Stockholm

    Owen’s goal against Argentina will go down as one of my all time favourites. It was so special. I can’t remember any stand out goals from Rooney for England.

    Guy Remon, Nottingham

  4. Get Involved

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    That Michael Owen is yet to be included in the Premier League Hall of Fame is a farce. Double golden boot winner and ballon d’or recipient. Another that the English public loves to tear down. And I say this as a proud (until we lose to Belarus tonight) Scot!

    Michael F, Edinburgh

    Owen won the Golden Boot twice as a teenager. Says it all, really.

    Dave Anderson, Ayr

    Owen at his peak reached levels Rooney never did. Rooney probably a more rounded player over time given Owen's injury issues, but as an out & out striker, poacher, goalscorer, Owen was in a league of his own for several years.

    Tony, Stirling

    Edinburgh, Ayr, Stirling? Scotland loves Michael Owen - who knew?!

  5. 'It was an honour for me to play with him'

    Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney on go kartsGetty Images

    Rooney and Owen played 52 times together - 25 for England and 27 for Manchester United, who Owen joined when he was 29 and past his peak.

    "It was an honour for me to play with him. I really did look up to him when I was young and we had very similar pathways in terms of we both come into the England squad quite young and then we played together," Rooney said.

    "We probably didn't get the best out of each other when we did play alongside each other.

    "And, actually, he assisted me, I think, more than I did him, which you'd probably think it should be the other way around."

    Rooney also thinks Owen's reputation as being boring is unmerited.

    "He is one of the funniest people you'll meet," he said. "I hope he just gets that out because everyone who played with him, we know what a good lad he is, and sometimes that doesn't always come across."

  6. Get Involved

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    If Michael Owen's hamstrings weren't made of toilet roll, he might have gone down as one of the best number 9s of all time. That said, I don't see how he beats Rooney overall. Rooney is United's record goalscorer, was England's record scorer (ahead of Owen), better overall player.

    Adam Osborne, Bristol

    Best at 17 - Owen. Best career - Rooney.

    Peter Newell, Birmingham

  7. Get Involved

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    Rooney - totally anonymous at World Cups. Tim Cahill of Australia played in the same WCs as Rooney and was way more noticeable AND successful (5 goals to Rooney's tap-in 1). Owen turned up for England when it mattered.

    Rob, Northwich

  8. 'We're two completely different footballers'

    Wayne RooneyGetty Images

    Wayne Rooney burst on to the scene at Everton with a famous long-range winner against Arsenal in October 2002 when he was aged 16 - which made him the youngest Premier League goalscorer at the time.

    He scored nine goals for England before his 19th birthday - including four at Euro 2004.

    Rooney was the youngest goalscorer in England history and the youngest European Championship scorer ever at the time (although that record only lasted days).

    On his BBC podcast, he would not say who was better aged 17.

    "I completely understand what he's saying," said Rooney.

    "But we're two completely different footballers - different styles, different techniques. Michael Owen, for a three or four-year period, was probably the best centre forward in the world.

    "I think people do forget actually how good he was.

    "It's hard to argue against anyone coming up against Michael Owen then. Unfortunately, he did get his injuries and he probably couldn't adapt his game maybe as well as I could in playing from the side or going back into midfield."

  9. Get Involved - Who deserves to be in the Hall of Fame?

    Click 'Get involved' at the top of this page

    And there's your next Get Involved teed up for you to have your say on as well.

    Who out of those 15 nominees is the most deserving of a place in the Premier League Hall of Fame?

    Fifth year in a row for Owen - surely he's getting in sooner or later?

    Can see this one causing a bit of debate.

    You know what to do.

  10. Owen among nominees for Premier League Hall of Fame

    Michael OwenGetty Images

    While we're on Michael Owen...

    The former Liverpool striker has been nominated for the 2025 Premier League Hall of Fame.

    It's the fifth year in a row that Owen has been among the nominees but he is yet to be inducted.

    Wayne Rooney was inducted in 2022 by the Premier League, rather than by a public vote.

    The full list of nominees:

    • Michael Owen
    • Sol Campbell
    • Michael Carrick
    • Jermain Defoe
    • Patrice Evra
    • Cesc Fabregas
    • Les Ferdinand
    • Robbie Fowler
    • Eden Hazard
    • Gary Neville
    • Teddy Sheringham
    • David Silva
    • Yaya Toure
    • Edwin van der Sar
    • Nemanja Vidic

  11. Get Involved

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    Best overall footballer - Rooney. Best goal scorer - Owen

    Chris, Leighton

    Like Rooney stated they are different players... Owen was the better goal scorer without doubt, but better plays goes to Rooney!

    James, Manchester

    Owen was a better finisher, but no doubt Rooney was a much better footballer. Rooney could do anything Owen did, but Owen couldn't do what Rooney did!

    Harj, West Midlands

  12. 'In our opening seven seasons Wazza didn't outscore me once'

    Michael Owen celebrates scoring for Liverpool against NewcastleGetty Images

    Michael Owen laid out the case for himself when replying to the MOTD post.

    "At 17 I scored 18 PL goals (winning the Golden Boot), Wazza scored 6. At 18 I again scored 18 goals (again winning the Golden Boot and coming 4th in The Ballon d'Or), Wazza scored 9," he wrote.

    Owen's stats include the age he was at the start of a season. He turned 18 midway through that first 18-goal season.

    He continued: "In our opening 7 seasons, Wazza didn't outscore me once (117 goals v 80). In which time I became the 2nd youngest Ballon d'Or winner ever.

    "Injuries hindered me from then on while he sustained his level. Therefore, he'll go down as a better player than me. But, at 17, please……"

    Owen, who has devastating pace before his injuries, won two Premier League Golden Boots for Liverpool before turning 20 - while Rooney never won one.

    Also at 18 he scored twice for England at the 1998 World Cup, including a famous solo effort against Argentina.

    He was 22 when he won the Ballon d'Or in 2021.

  13. Get Involved - 'Rooney was in a league of his own'

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    Rooney was in a league of his own. Rooney had a unique disposition to be very reactive, indecisive and very ruthless, which all together gave Rooney the edge over most of the top players. Rooneys desire to win was backed up by his passion to show determination to succeed.

    Mathew, Nottinghamshire

    For me Rooney was one of the last ‘proper footballers’ to play the game. He had loads of character and would happily play on Sunday league standard pitches. Not many will do that now. He was a 100% kind of player who’d fit in any team.

    John, Durham

    There’s not even a debate. Rooney was to Owen what Messi is to Jamie Vardy. One is a brilliant all round footballer who could play in any position and be the best player in the team. The other is a quick striker with good finishing. Levels!

    Nick, Manchester

  14. Owen v Rooney - Premier League goalscoring compares by age

    Graph showing goals scored by Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney at different ages

  15. Get Involved

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    Surely the best teenage footballers are the ones who have a long and illustrious careers. That being said I was in awe of Michael Owen as a kid, especially he scored that hat trick against Germany in the 5-1 win.

    Matt, Eastleigh

    Rooney's response was so humble. I'd say Michael Owen at his peak was better. He also had more of an impact than Rooney for England, scoring more against the bigger teams. Injuries hindered him though.

    Eric, London

    Owen definitely better and possessed more class.

    Max, London

  16. 'I'd never judge myself against Michael Owen'

    Michael Owen and Wayne RooneyGetty Images

    The debate began when former Liverpool and England striker Owen said on a recent Rio Ferdinand podcast: "I saw Wazza got asked who was the best out of us at the age of 17 or 18. And I did smile."

    After being asked how he compared to other players at the same age, Owen said: "The only person you could possibly compare me to in our country is Wayne Rooney."

    On Friday, BBC Match of the Day's X account asked - who was better aged 17, Michael Owen or Wayne Rooney?

    And Owen replied claiming that he was.

    Rooney, who is six years younger than Owen, said: "I think his comments are fair. Of course, he's going to back himself. I'd back myself.

    "But, I'd never judge myself against Michael Owen because he's someone I actually looked up to and had the pleasure of playing alongside [for England and Manchester United]."

  17. Get Involved

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    Rooney far better than Owen for me and Shearer better than them both. As a footballer though Rooney is the best. Owen was a special talent up until 2002 from 1997 but had no longevity, you could see he thought he was doing Newcastle a favour being there.

    Steven, Middlesbrough

  18. Get Involved

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    We'd love to hear from you about the whole Owen-Rooney debate.

    Reckon Owen was better in his prime? Or does Rooney's longevity automatically put him higher on the list of all-time greats?

    And if you were able to time travel and bring back a 17-year-old Owen or Rooney, who would you choose to lead England's attacking line for the 2026 World Cup?

    And just for the sake of it, let's open the question up to a global level - who is the best-ever teenage sensation?

  19. Owen v Rooney - who was best as a teenager?

    Wayne Rooney Show: Rooney responds to Michael Owen's claim on who was better

    Who was better at the age of 17 - Michael Owen or Wayne Rooney?

    It's a debate that's been sweeping social media during the past week after Owen backed himself against his former England team-mate.

    Now Rooney has had his say - and he's been diplomatic.

    "Michael and I are very different players," he said on the latest episode of The Wayne Rooney Show, which you can now listen to on BBC Sounds.

    "I used to go out on the street and pretend to be Michael Owen - even though he played for Liverpool."

  20. Right, that's some of the international break covered off and, as promised, we're done with the long throw-in talk.

    Now it's time for a Michael Owen v Wayne Rooney showdown...