The High Performance Podcast · 2026-08-24 · 73 min · 14,562 words

Michael Owen: Ballon d'Or at 22, Retired at 33 - The Mentality That Nearly Broke Him

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For a generation you were One of the best strikers not just in England, but In the entire world. You can't try to be too perfect. It can get you to the top, but it can also be Pretty damn dangerous.

I wanted to just stop playing football. I hated it, from a strong mindset to a weak one. it was still fiercely competitive. There has to become a realisation at some point that Hang on. You can't kid yourself and you can't pretend, you can't be totally delusional. If you think you're gonna win a Ballon d'or again, or you think you're gonna win a golden boot again.

That ain't happening. Michael, welcome to the show. Thanks, mate. I was telling someone you were on today and they said why wasn't Michael on like week one when you were working together. You I think you just said no for the last seven years. Do we do we want to go there straight away? I said that to you. Did you? Yeah.

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