Robbie Fowler claims he outshone Shearer despite only 26 England caps

Robbie Fowler insists he was superior to Alan Shearer, Michael Owen and Teddy Sheringham, yet he only played 26 England games' in his career, scoring seven goals and providing three assists after debuting in 1996 for the national side under manager Terry Venables.

The piece is written by Affan Khan, a PM‑time writer based in the GMT+1 zone who covers European football for GIVEMESPORT. He previously contributed to Fansided and Last Word on Sports, producing both breaking news and analytical features.

Fowler earned exactly 26 caps for England, netting seven times and adding three assists. His 26 England games were limited, and his international debut came as a substitute in a friendly against Bulgaria in 1996.

At club level, Fowler became a hugely popular figure at Liverpool, scoring 163 Premier League goals and earning the nickname “God” among supporters. Despite his domestic success, he never managed to replicate the same impact consistently on the international stage.

Fowler's claim of superiority

Speaking on the Up Front podcast, Fowler declared, “In all honesty, I’ve always thought I was better than Michael Owen. He was quicker than me, but in every other element of being a striker I genuinely think I was better.”

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He extended the claim to Alan Shearer, Teddy Sheringham, Ian Wright and others, saying he would back himself as the best English striker of his era. “I’d scored nearly 100 goals before I was called up to England – that to me is extraordinary,” he added.

Comparative England statistics

By contrast, Owen amassed 89 England caps and 40 goals, sharing the pitch with Fowler 99 times and contributing 13 goals together. Only five players – Jimmy Greaves, Gary Lineker, Bobby Charlton, Wayne Rooney and Harry Kane – have scored more for England than Owen.

The 1990s and early 2000s offered England a deep pool of forwards, with Alan Shearer, Teddy Sheringham, Ian Wright, Les Ferdinand and Andy Cole all vying for selection, making competition fierce.

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Fowler concluded, “Today I’d be in the England squad in an instant with the way I was playing back then,” suggesting he believes his form would still merit selection.

Off the pitch, Fowler is completing a degree in Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Manchester, balancing studies with his continued involvement in football media. He hopes to give fans insight through his writing.