20 Best FIFA World Cup Goals Ever

It's easy to forget today, given the lacklustre final years of his career, quite what a spectacular talent Michael Owen, the last English Ballon d'Or winner, once was.

With an explosive turn of pace and a great eye for goal, Owen's rise to the top was meteoric. His debut for Liverpool had been barely over a year before the 1998 World Cup, but nevertheless by the time that the England team set off for France Owen had just finished his first full season as the Premier League's Golden Boot winner.

The eighteen-year-old Owen had only made his international debut that February, the youngest player to represent England in the twentieth century, but he had already forced himself into the starting lineup by the World Cup's knockout rounds. Still, it was one fantastic goal in the second round match with Argentina that really announced Owen on the world stage.

England had gone behind early in the game before equalising with an Alan Shearer penalty. Five minutes later David Beckham slid the ball to Owen inside the centre circle. The young forward let it run and used his pace to shrug off the challenge of the experienced Roberto Ayala, neatly turned José Chamot and, just as the ball appeared to be getting away from him, placed an inch-perfect finish beyond the keeper.

England went on to lose the game on penalties, but the memory of Owen's spectacular solo effort would allow English fans to look back fondly on France 98 ever since.