Former Liverpool and England striker Michael Owen's awkward interview at the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony is being widely circulated after he was asked a baffling question by a reporter.

Before last night's result, which saw Harry Kane struggle to find the words as he was named the best player in the world ahead of Kylian Mbappe in second and Lamine Yamal in third, Owen was the last British recipient of football's greatest individual honour.

He won the award in 2001, the same year the Reds completed an unconventional treble of the UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup. As a result, he remains one of his nation's greatest-ever players.

Sadly, Owen's incredible goalscoring talent can often get lost in the shuffle these days, with many of the younger generation seeing him more as a pundit or a failed Manchester United signing than one of the best to ever do it.

Michael Owen's Awkward 2026 Ballon d'Or Interview

If there was ever anything to highlight just how much of Owen's career has been forgotten about in recent years, it's his uncomfortable interview during the Ballon d'Or ceremony.

Sport2, a broadcaster that operates across multiple countries such as Hungary, Czechia, and Slovakia, were able to pull the 46-year-old to one side for an interview. With everything going smoothly, it would seem the good rapport Owen had built with the reporter quickly came crashing back down when he was asked (watch the full segment below):

"What was your best standing in the Ballon d'Or when you were active?"

In response, Owen - visibly a little taken aback by the question - said: "Well, I won it in 2001..." It didn't take long for that clip to be shared on social media, with viewers left uneasy by it.

The reporter had either not done his homework or had simply just forgotten in the moment, but X users were quick to make note that Owen was 'fuming inside', as another user remarked: "How is this real?"

How Owen Won the 2001 Ballon d'Or

Owen was the fourth English national to win the award upon his anointment 25 years ago, after Stanley Matthews (1956), Bobby Charlton (1966) and fellow Reds' legend Kevin Keegan (1978, 1979).

He earnt 176 points at the Parisian ceremony, which was 36 more than Raul, 62 more than Oliver Kahn, and an incredible 74 more points than compatriot David Beckham. See the full voting results below:

Across 46 appearances in all competitions, Owen - just 23 at the time, scored 24 goals and produced a further eight assists for his Liverpool teammates.

Owen scored both goals in their triumph over Arsenal in the 2001 FA Cup Final as they came back from one goal down down to win 2-1. And, within just a few short months, he added a Charity Shield and UEFA Super Cup to his trophy cabinet, with the Merseysiders becoming the first English team to win five trophies in one calendar year.

Internationally that year, his standout moment came in September, when he scored a hat-trick in England’s 5-1 win away to Germany in a World Cup qualifier.