Michael Owen's Five Most Memorable Goals

What comes to mind when you think of Michael Owen?

Is it goalscoring? Is it a particular goal? Is it the two Premier League Golden Boots or the 2001 Ballon d’Or? Is it the treble against Germany or the 40 goals for England as a whole?

For me, personally, it was the look of pure joy that came over his face after putting the ball into the back of the net. There was always something boyish about Michael Owen—a pure love of goalscoring that the trappings of fame and fortune simply couldn’t hide.

Following are what, to me, are Michael’s five most memorable goals. Chances are you’ll think of some others, and that’s fine. There’s over 250 to choose from. But if you think of one you’d have liked to have seen on this list, feel free to describe it in the forum below.

Let’s get to it, then. And you’ll never guess which goal I chose as number one...

5. September 20, 2009: For Manchester United vs. Manchester City

He had already scored in the Merseyside Derby, El Classico and the Tyne-Wear derby before participating in his first Manchester derby, and true to form he found the back of the net in that one as well, scoring the winner in a 4-3 triumph for United in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time.

4. August 30, 1998: For Liverpool vs. Newcastle

Exactly two months after his famous goal against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup, Michael Owen bagged a hat-trick for Liverpool at St. James’ park that included a magnificent finish on the third tally against future teammate Shay Given.

3. September 1, 2001: For England vs. Germany

It was one of English football’s most famous nights, although it began with a Germany goal after just six minutes courtesy of Carsten Jancker.

Enter Michael Owen. Already with 10 goals on his international CV coming into the World Cup qualifier in Munich, he added a further three in front of a stunned audience of more than 63,000, including a classic Owen finish that completed the treble.

2. May 12, 2001: For Liverpool vs. Arsenal

Liverpool had already won the UEFA Cup and League Cup by the time they took the field at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium for the 2001 FA Cup final, and for his efforts over the course of the season Owen would go on to win the Ballon d’Or. But Arsenal dominated the match until Owen’s equalizer in the 83rd minute, and he’d add this winner just five minutes later.

1. June 30, 1998: For England vs. Argentina

It remains one of the finest goals scored at a World Cup in the competition’s history. Alan Shearer’s 10th-minute penalty had cancelled out Gabriel Batistuta’s opener of just four minutes prior, and shortly after the quarter-hour mark Owen had England in the lead after a superb solo effort that took him past two Argentine defenders before finishing with aplomb past goalkeeper Carlos Roa. Of course, we all know what happened early in the second half...

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