<p><strong>Gary Lineker</strong>, the former <strong><a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/england">England</a></strong> striker and respected sports broadcaster, remains one of the most iconic figures in soccer history. Renowned for his clean style of play—he was never booked in his entire career—Lineker starred for <strong>Leicester City, Everton, Barcelona, and Tottenham Hotspur</strong>. He also shined on the international stage, scoring <strong>48 goals in 80 appearances for England</strong>. Following his retirement, Lineker transitioned into broadcasting, becoming a staple on British television as host of BBC’s Match of the Day.</p>



<p>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 <strong>Steven Gerrard and Lothar Matthäus</strong>, saying: <em><strong>“They could do a bit of everything.”</strong></em></p>



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



<p><a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cristiano-ronaldo">Cristiano Ronaldo</a> played eight seasons in the Premier League across two stints with Manchester United,<strong> totaling 236 appearances, 103 goals, and 37 assists</strong>. The Portuguese forward won <strong>three Premier League titles with United and captured the Premier League Golden Boot in the 2007–08 season</strong>. His dominance in England was only the beginning of a career that would redefine modern soccer.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20250510_BUS_394702_GettyImages-81213439-1-1024x576_6ae0a489.webp&amp;width=1024&amp;height=576" alt="cristiano-ronaldo-man-united" class="wp-image-394704" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/09225919/GettyImages-81213439-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/09225919/GettyImages-81213439-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/09225919/GettyImages-81213439-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/09225919/GettyImages-81213439-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/09225919/GettyImages-81213439-1-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/09225919/GettyImages-81213439-1-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/09225919/GettyImages-81213439-1-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/09225919/GettyImages-81213439-1.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure><figcaption>Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United in action during the UEFA Champions League Final match between Manchester United and Chelsea</figcaption></figure>



<h2>Lineker’s career in brief</h2>



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


        <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" id="BUS#/soccer/raphinha-equals-cristiano-ronaldos-champions-league-all-time-record-in-barcelonas-defeat-to-inter"></div>

        

        


<p>At Everton, <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/gary-lineker">Lineker</a> led the league in scoring during the 1985–86 season, earning a transfer to Barcelona. Under manager Terry Venables, <strong>he became a Camp Nou favorite, highlighted by a memorable hat-trick against Real Madrid in El Clásico</strong>.</p>



<p>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 <strong>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</strong>.</p>



<p>After finishing his playing days with Japan’s Nagoya Grampus Eight, Lineker stepped into broadcasting and became <strong>one of the most respected voices in <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/soccer">soccer</a> media</strong>. His thoughtful analysis and composed presence have earned him a unique place in the sport’s cultural landscape.</p>

Gary Lineker Names Cristiano Ronaldo Greatest Premier League Player of All Time

England legend Gary Lineker names greatest soccer player of all time in the Premier League

Tom Brady makes sincere admission when asked to choose the GOAT between Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo

‘Cristiano is like Michael Jordan,’ claims Real Madrid star who faced Ronaldo’s Portugal

England legend Gary Lineker names greatest soccer player of all time in the Premier League - Bolavip US

miniaturas

<p><strong>Gary Lineker</strong> has never been one to hold back his opinions, his work on the BBC covering soccer and his support of the People’s Vote campaign group aimed against Brexit, has put the former<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/topic/england" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> England</a> and <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/barcelona-t11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Barcelona</a> striker at the forefront of major news around the world.</p>
<p><strong>After the death of <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/soccer/diego-maradona-asks-himself-about-death-in-his-own-variety-show-video-20201125-0023.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Diego Maradona</a>, 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.</strong> Now Lineker has taken on the role as an ambassador to LaLiga in Spain and <a href="https://www.marca.com/en/football/international-football/2021/10/06/615d5ff2e2704e1a0d8b45ba.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">spoke to leading media outlet Marca</a> and shared his thoughts on his new role, Messi and Ronaldo, Maradona, and the age-old question, which league is better: the <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/premier-league-t45" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Premier League</a> or <a href="https://bolavip.com/en/la-liga-t48" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LaLiga</a>.</p>
<p>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. <strong>Here are some interesting quotes from Gary Lineker’s interview with Marca.</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center">
</p><div class="ck-youtube" id="youtube-68">    <span class="item first"></span>  <span class="item second"></span>  <span class="item third"></span> </div>
<p></p>
<h2>On which league is better the Premier League or LaLiga</h2>
<div style="text-align:center">
<figure class="image">   <figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" data-height="410" data-width="740" data-size="w:740,h:410" hspace="5" vspace="5" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20211006_BUS_176918___gary_lineker_and_alan_shearer_on_stage_during_the_national_television_awards_crop1633534594230.jpg_20222851_2bacc015.webp&amp;width=740&amp;height=410" width="740" height="410"></figure><figcaption>    : Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer on stage during the National Television Awards (Getty)   </figcaption></figure>
<p></p></div>
<p>Lineker left no room for debate as to which league, he thinks is better, <em>“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, w</em>ho played so much when they were young that they struggled with injuries later on. I hope that won’t be the case with Pedri.”</p>
<p><strong>On his views of the middle tier teams of both leagues: </strong><em>“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.”</em></p>
<h2>On Messi and Maradona as compared to Cristiano Ronaldo</h2>
<div style="text-align:center">
<figure class="image">   <figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" data-height="410" data-width="740" data-size="w:740,h:410" hspace="5" vspace="5" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20211006_BUS_176918_diego_maradona_head_coach_of_argentina_conducts_warm_up_exercises_with_striker_lionel_messi_crop1633534514904.jpg_20222851_27d5d4f5.webp&amp;width=740&amp;height=410" width="740" height="410"></figure><figcaption>    Diego Maradona head coach of Argentina conducts warm up exercises with striker Lionel Messi (Getty)   </figcaption></figure>
<p></p></div>
<p><em>“(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.”</em></p>
<h2>Being an ambassador for LaLiga</h2>
<div style="text-align:center">
<figure class="image">   <figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" data-height="410" data-width="740" data-size="w:740,h:410" hspace="5" vspace="5" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20211006_BUS_176918___gary_lineker_barcelona_crop1633534679678.jpg_20222851_5425fc4d.webp&amp;width=740&amp;height=410" width="740" height="410"></figure><figcaption>    Gary Lineker Barcelona (Getty)   </figcaption></figure>
<p></p></div>
<p><em>“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.”</em></p>
<h2>On his defending Ronald Koeman at Barcelona</h2>
<div style="text-align:center">
<figure class="image">   <figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" data-height="410" data-width="740" data-size="w:740,h:410" hspace="5" vspace="5" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20211006_BUS_176918_ronald_koeman_1_crop1633534756402.jpg_20222851_35b0eb64.webp&amp;width=740&amp;height=410" width="740" height="410"></figure><figcaption>    Ronald Koeman (Getty)   </figcaption></figure>
<p></p></div>
<p><em>“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.”</em></p>
<p><span></span> </p>
<div class="ck-related-news">  <span data-src="/usa/contenidos/2021/10/06/noticia_0002.html" data-type="news"></span>  <p></p>
<div id="relatedNews-52">     </div>
<p></p></div><p></p>

Gary Lineker on Messi, Maradona, and the age-old debate, LaLiga vs Premier League

Gary Lineker on Messi, Maradona, and the age-old debate, LaLiga vs Premier League - Bolavip US

Latest news from gary lineker. Find out about all the news related to gary lineker on bolavip.com/en