I’m one of England’s greatest players, played with Ronaldo and won Ballon d’Or but beating Arsenal was best day of my life

In a time when individual honours and Champions League titles mark careers, one England great credits his FA Cup win as the best of them all.

The scene was set. Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium in May 2001 – the first FA Cup final to be held outside of England due to the reconstruction of Wembley Stadium.

Two of English football’s giants went head-to-head on a stifling afternoon and for all of Liverpool’s achievements in the months leading up to the showpiece, it was Arsenal who were favourites to lift the trophy they won three-years previous.

Gerard Houllier’s side knew how to get over the line having seen off Birmingham City to land the League Cup, three months earlier.

But their late heroics in Cardiff was the catalyst for a unique sweep of trophies as they added the UEFA Cup, UEFA Super Cup and Charity Shield to an incredible 2001 resume.

It all began with a 20-year-old whizzkid, five-minutes on the clock and a chance at goal.

With time running out and Arsene Wenger’s side inching closer to another trophy, step forward Michael Owen to break Gunners hearts with a stunning late double.

It just so happens that the former Liverpool striker was at talkSPORT Towers with his son, James, where they were raising awareness of Stargardt disease (see below), a rare inherited condition affecting one in 8,000 to 10,000 people, one of whom is James, 17.

The talk inevitably turned to football and that sunny day in Wales.

“The best day of my life,” Owen told White and Jordan during his visit.

“It was just an incredible season winning all those trophies. We won five in that calendar year. It was incredible but that game against Arsenal in the FA Cup final is something I'll never forget.”

It looked bleak at times for the Reds as an Arsenal side