Rooney's a great example, he, Ronaldo, Messi, even Modric, would have all been around at the same time back in 2004-2006 but CR7 and Messi pushed on to 55 goals in 55 matches seasons, multiple balon dor superstar status, Rooney hovered around a 8/10 elite level player. Don't get me wrong, Rooney had an incredible career, but it's the difference between being in the top 5 players of all time or being like 47th.
At the moment Bellingham is potentially on a top 10 goat trajectory, which is so exciting.
Funnily enough, Owen himself has come out today or yesterday and said he never really was the best player even when he won that. Zidane, Kaka, Shevchenko, Brazilian Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, even Kahn, for me from the early 2000s. Shearer was better than Owen.
I certainly remember when Owen was on a trajectory to annihilate England's record goalscorer target though, before it all soured.