Gary Lineker

Gary Lineker is a celebrated former professional footballer and a prominent sports broadcaster. Renowned for his exceptional goal-scoring abilities and sportsmanship, Lineker's career has left an indelible mark on English football.

Gary Lineker began his career at Leicester City in 1978, scoring 95 goals in 194 appearances before a standout season at Everton in 1985 earned him top individual honors. He moved to Barcelona in 1986, where he scored 42 goals and won both the Copa del Rey and the European Cup Winners' Cup. Returning to England in 1989, he joined Tottenham Hotspur, adding 67 goals and an FA Cup title to his record, before finishing his playing career in Japan with Nagoya Grampus Eight in 1994.

Internationally, Lineker earned 80 caps for England, scoring 48 goals, making him the country's fourth-highest goal scorer. He played a pivotal role in England's journey to the semi-finals in the 1990 World Cup.

After retiring from professional football, Lineker transitioned into broadcasting, becoming the host of BBC's "Match of the Day" in 1999. He held this position for over 25 years, becoming the longest-serving presenter of the program. In addition to "Match of the Day," he has been the BBC's lead presenter for major football tournaments, including the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Championship. Lineker has also worked with other networks such as Al Jazeera Sports, NBC Sports Network, and BT Sport.

In April 2025, Lineker announced his decision to step down from "Match of the Day" at the end of the football season. Despite his departure from the show, he will continue to host select events like the FA Cup and the 2026 World Cup and remain involved with his podcast "The Rest is Football" alongside Alan Shearer and Micah Richards. He will host a daily version of the podcast during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will stream on Netflix.

Lineker's legacy is marked by both individual accolades and his enduring impact on the sport. He won the Golden Boot at the 1986 FIFA World Cup, was named PFA Players' Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year in 1986, and again earned the FWA honor in 1992. Celebrated for his impeccable sportsmanship, he received the FIFA Fair Play Award in 1990, having never received a yellow or red card throughout his career. Lineker was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame and recognized with an Honorary Master of Arts from Loughborough University in 1992. In 2020, he was named a Visiting Fellow at Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford.