Owen’s Elite Trio: The Teammates Who Took His Breath Away

When you’ve shared a dressing room with Manchester United icons, Liverpool legends and Real Madrid Galácticos, choosing the very best takes some doing. Yet Michael Owen has stuck his neck out, revealing the three finest footballers he ever lined up alongside. His top three: Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo Nazario and Steven Gerrard. And yes, that means no Wayne Rooney, David Beckham or Paul Scholes — which tells you just how sky‑high the standard is.

Speaking to AceOdds, as relayed by The Mirror, the 2001 Ballon d’Or winner — who turned out for Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle and Manchester United — lifted the lid on why those three sit a class apart.

Zidane: the purest touch in the game

Owen’s verdict on Zinedine Zidane cuts straight to the essence: the Frenchman was the most effortless, natural footballer he shared a pitch with. During Owen’s Bernabéu stint in 2004–05, Zidane wasn’t there to chase headlines; he was there to run the tempo, make the ball obey, and make elite players look ordinary. The touch, the balance, the glide — it was football played in silk slippers. You don’t need a compilation to know it; professionals felt it from ten yards away.

Ronaldo Nazario: still outrageous, even at less than 100%

R9 at Real Madrid was past his explosive best — and still miles better than almost everyone else. That’s Owen’s point. Even with the miles on the clock and the knees grumbling, Ronaldo’s movement, deception and finishing were on another level. Two Ballons d’Or (1997 and 2002), a World Cup won while dragging defenders to places they didn’t want to go — the Brazilian’s baseline was most players’ ceiling. At close quarters, Owen saw a phenomenon whose instincts never dulled.

Steven Gerrard: the all‑court leader and Owen’s perfect foil

Back on Merseyside, Owen’s pick is the man who had every club in his bag: Steven Gerrard. Pace, power, passing range, timing of runs, set‑piece threat — the lot. More importantly, the chemistry clicked. Their understanding was telepathic at times: Gerrard bursting lines, Owen darting into the blindside, one ball, one touch, job done. The numbers back it up: they played 131 matches together and combined for 13 goals (nine for Owen from Gerrard’s service, four for Gerrard supplied by Owen), per Transfermarkt, accurate as of 21/12/2025.

The takeaway

There’s no slight intended on Rooney, Beckham, Scholes and a raft of other heavyweights; if anything, Owen’s shortlist underlines the insane standard at the very top. Zidane had the artistry, Ronaldo the devastation, and Gerrard the total package with a bond that made both men better. That’s a front‑room wall of fame most pros would happily retire to.

If you fancy sharpening your insight off the pitch as well, check out the best betting sites and keep your eye in — just as Owen did in front of goal.

Stats via Transfermarkt; interview attribution per The Mirror’s report on Owen’s chat with AceOdds.