A reporter suffered an embarrassing moment while interviewing Michael Owen at the Ballon d'Or ceremony after forgetting the England icon previously won the prize.
The 46-year-old former striker for Liverpool and Real Madrid secured the prestigious trophy in 2001.
Harry Kane recently became the first Englishman in 25 years to claim the Ballon d'Or on Monday.
Owen found himself at the center of an awkward exchange while walking the red carpet at the London Palladium.
The former Premier League title winner had to remind the interviewer that Kane was following his prior footsteps.
The journalist, appearing to lack preparation for the star-studded event, asked, “What was your best standing in the Ballon d'Or when you were active?”
A stunned Owen quickly replied, “Well, I won it in 2001.”
The interviewer then made a desperate attempt to recover from the blunder by responding, “You did, right?”
Owen claimed the Ballon d'Or following a remarkable year in which he secured the Treble with Liverpool and scored 31 goals.
The legendary marksman led the Merseyside club to Uefa Cup, FA Cup, and League Cup victories during the 2000/01 season.
Owen, who presented Alexia Putellas with the Women's Ballon d'Or on Monday, subsequently added the Super Cup and Community Shield to his trophy count early in the next campaign.
That successful 12-month period allowed the future Newcastle and Manchester United player to finish ahead of Raul and Oliver Kahn in the Ballon d'Or voting.
This awkward interview was not the sole controversial incident during the glamorous ceremony.
Host Kate Abdo sensationally asked Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner to remove her top.
Full Men's Ballon d'Or rankings
HERE'S who finished in the top 30 for the Men's Ballon d'Or award:
- 1st. Harry Kane
- 2nd. Kylian Mbappe
- 3rd. Lamine Yamal
- 4th. Rodri
- 5th. Lionel Messi
- 6th. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
- 7th. Ousmane Dembélé
- 8th. Erling Haaland
- 9th. Michael Olise
- 10th. Fabián Ruiz
- 11th: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid and England)
- 12th: Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona and Spain)
- 13th: Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain and Morocco)
- 14th: Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain and Portugal)
- 15th: Declan Rice (Arsenal and England)
- 16th: Ferran Torres (Barcelona/Paris Saint-Germain and Spain)
- 17th: Vinícius Junior (Real Madrid and Brazil)
- 18th: Marc Cucurella (Chelsea/Real Madrid and Spain)
- 19th: Joao Neves (Paris Saint-Germain and Portugal)
- 20th: Willian Pacho (Paris Saint-Germain and Ecuador)
- 21st: Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal and Brazil)
- 22nd: Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan and Argentina)
- 23rd: Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain and Portugal)
- 24th: Luis Diaz (Bayern Munich and Colombia)
- 25th: Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil)
- 26th: Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich and France)
- 27th: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United and Portugal)
- 28th Julián Quinones (Al Qadsiah and Mexico)
- 29th: Sadio Mane (Al Nassr and Senegal)
- 29th: William Saliba (Arsenal and France)
This followed the actress admitting a desire to recreate Chloe Kelly's famous celebration from the Euro 2022 final.
Additionally, security grabbed a photographer after he pushed past former Lionesses striker Lianne Sanderson and journalist Fabrizio Romano during a live DAZN broadcast.
