In a 2024 episode of The Rest Is Football podcast, which he co-hosts with Micah Richards and Alan Shearer, Lineker discussed the players he considers the most complete in football history. Citing versatility and all-around ability, he mentioned Steven Gerrard and Lothar Matthäus, saying: “They could do a bit of everything.”

However, when asked by The Times to name the greatest Premier League player of all time, Lineker offered a definitive answer. “Well, that was probably [Cristiano] Ronaldo because of what he went on to do,” he said. “But, gosh, so many great players. You could have a debate just about midfielders—Gerrard, Scholes, Lampard, Keane, Vieira, and so on.”

Cristiano Ronaldo played eight seasons in the Premier League across two stints with Manchester United, totaling 236 appearances, 103 goals, and 37 assists. The Portuguese forward won three Premier League titles with United and captured the Premier League Golden Boot in the 2007–08 season. His dominance in England was only the beginning of a career that would redefine modern soccer.

Lineker’s career in brief

Lineker launched his professional career with Leicester City in 1978, quickly making a name for himself with his clinical finishing. After scoring over 100 goals for the club and helping them secure promotion to the First Division, he moved to Everton in 1985.

At Everton, Lineker led the league in scoring during the 1985–86 season, earning a transfer to Barcelona. Under manager Terry Venables, he became a Camp Nou favorite, highlighted by a memorable hat-trick against Real Madrid in El Clásico.

He returned to England in 1989 to join Tottenham, where he again finished as one of the league’s top scorers and won the 1991 FA Cup. For England, Lineker was a constant attacking threat, claiming the Golden Boot at the 1986 World Cup and playing a key role in the team’s semi-final run at Italia ’90.

After finishing his playing days with Japan’s Nagoya Grampus Eight, Lineker stepped into broadcasting and became one of the most respected voices in soccer media. His thoughtful analysis and composed presence have earned him a unique place in the sport’s cultural landscape.

After the death of Diego Maradona, his admiration for “El Diego” went viral all around the world after he spoke so passionately about sharing the field with Maradona in a friendly match in the 80’s. Now Lineker has taken on the role as an ambassador to LaLiga in Spain and spoke to leading media outlet Marca and shared his thoughts on his new role, Messi and Ronaldo, Maradona, and the age-old question, which league is better: the Premier League or LaLiga.

Gary Lineker also took the time to chat about the current issues facing his old club Barcelona, and his tweet where he defended under fire coach Ronald Koeman. Here are some interesting quotes from Gary Lineker’s interview with Marca.

On which league is better the Premier League or LaLiga

Lineker left no room for debate as to which league, he thinks is better, “Three or four years ago, I think Spain was ahead of England. LaLiga was on top during those 10 years of [Lionel] Messi and [Cristiano] Ronaldo’s reign, dominating the Champions League and the Europa League with Sevilla, Atletico… The Spanish teams were winning almost everything, but all leagues have dips and perhaps this one won’t last long for LaLiga, if you look at the number of good young players there are in Spain. Pedri, for example – what a fantastic player! His consistency has surprised me for one so young. Or Ansu Fati, fantastic as well. I hope they don’t get burnt out. I’ve seen some brilliant players, like [Michael] Owen or Ronaldo, who played so much when they were young that they struggled with injuries later on. I hope that won’t be the case with Pedri.”

On his views of the middle tier teams of both leagues: “That’s a difficult question to answer, unless they play against each other. The real difference is in the style. Although there are lots of foreign players in England, the British style still prevails, frenzied, relentless… Some foreign coaches have slowed the pace down, which is a positive in my opinion, but it’s still a British style in general. LaLiga is more technical.”

On Messi and Maradona as compared to Cristiano Ronaldo

“(Messi and Maradona) gave us happiness. There were other greats, like the two Ronaldos, for example, but I consider them more as tremendous goal scorers. Diego and Leo did, and do, in each game, two or three things that neither I nor almost anyone did in an entire career. They play a different sport. I also love Cristiano. I respect him a lot, he is great too… but my honest football opinion is that there is no comparison as to who is the best. Because of the things that Leo does. That said, it even hurts me to compare them, because they are both massive.”

Being an ambassador for LaLiga

“I’m proud that LaLiga has chosen me, it’s an honor. Great young players are coming to LaLiga right now and that’s important. Although Barcelona are going through a big financial crisis at the moment, they and Real Madrid are the two biggest global brands in this sport.”

On his defending Ronald Koeman at Barcelona

“I don’t know [laughs]. I do think it’s a very difficult job, he arrived at Barcelona’s worst period for any coach. I watch all the team’s games. I consider them my second club, after Leicester. I always watch them. And in the last few years I’d been thinking: what would be of this team if Leo isn’t there one day? We’re seeing the answer now.”