Owen won the Ballon d'Or in 2001 after a remarkable calendar year in which he scored 31 goals for Liverpool and collected five winner's medals. Owen, who was only 21 years old at the time, overcame the disappointment of being an unused substitute in Liverpool's 2001 League Cup final victory to score two thrilling late goals and steal the FA Cup from Arsenal's clutches. He also helped England qualify for their first World Cup in 14 years by scoring three goals in as many matches during his country's run to the quarterfinals. The Ballon d'Or awards its prizes each year on January 4. The nominees are presented with their achievements during the previous season and they can choose not to accept any award. In fact, several winners have refused all forms of recognition including the prize that bears their name. The aim is to celebrate the best players in the world without influencing their performance. It is no surprise that Michael Owen has been nominated for the 2001 Ballon d'Or award because of his amazing goalscoring record last season. However, it is not every year that a player scores so many goals and wins most valuable player awards too. Perhaps, the most interesting aspect about this year's nomination is that it comes from FIFA/Coca-Cola, the company that sponsors the trophy. This shows how popular Owen is around the world and he deserves to be among the top players in the world. Another reason why Michael Owen should win the award is because he is a young player who has a lot of room to grow.