Gary Lineker knows a thing or two about playing alongside and against the very best. The former England striker turned broadcaster has never been shy about sharing his opinions, and his recently revealed top five players of all time has done exactly what those lists are designed to do, get people talking.
Lineker made the revelations on his popular podcast The Rest Is Football, alongside fellow pundits Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, with Richards immediately agreeing that Lineker's list mirrored his own.
Few people are better placed to make such a judgment. Lineker scored 48 goals for England, won the Golden Boot at the 1986 World Cup and shared pitches with some of the finest players of his generation. When he speaks about greatness, it comes from a place of real experience.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo after playing Al Nassr
Here’s where the debate begins. Cristiano Ronaldo at five. For a large section of his fans, the placement of the Portuguese superstar at the foot of this list will feel like an insult. Five Ballon d'Or awards, Champions League titles with both Manchester United and Real Madrid, and a world record goal tally that’s still growing.
The reaction online has been predictably fierce. For many, Ronaldo belongs in the top two at worst, but the idea of him sitting behind four others has proven especially contentious. The placement arguably says less about any shortcomings in Ronaldo's career and more about the extraordinary quality of those ranked above him though. Even Lineker himself jokingly acknowledged the controversy his list would stir, admitting "that will upset Cristiano" as he revealed his rankings.
Ronaldo Nazário
Ronaldo Nazario Brazil
Ronaldo Nazario Brazil
R9. The original. Before the debate around the two Ronaldos became common place, there was simply Ronaldo. The Brazilian whose combination of pace, skill and finishing ability made him the most complete striker of his generation. Lineker has always had a deep appreciation for a genuine goalscorer, given that he was one himself, and few have ever been more instinctive in front of goal than O Fenômeno at his peak.
His 1998 World Cup final appearance still has a dark cloud of mystery over it, but his stunning individual display in the 2002 World Cup made up for it, lifting the trophy and finishing as top scorer, as well as earning his second Ballon d'Or that same year. Injuries robbed the world of what could have been an even more remarkable story, but what he produced between those setbacks was enough to place him firmly among the all-time greats, something Lineker highlighted himself. Lineker's decision to rank him above Cristiano Ronaldo will raise eyebrows, but it’s far from indefensible.
Pelé
Pele
Pele
If football has a founding figure of greatness, it’s Pelé. Long before the modern game’s global explosion, the Brazilian set the standard by which every attacking player has since been judged. Three World Cup triumphs in 1958, 1962 and 1970 is an achievement that no other has matched, and while the exact tally of his career goals is often plunged into debate, there’s no disputing the scale of his output or influence.
Lineker has long spoken of his admiration for Pelé and even developed a personal friendship with him over the years, but this placement reflects his achievements more than any personal connection. Even after his passing in 2022, his legacy has shown no signs of fading. Pelé’s impact on football’s global growth as a FIFA ambassador, his status as the game’s first true worldwide icon, and the achievements and records he’s amassed ensure that his place in history will always be secure.
Diego Maradona
Maradona
Lineker faced Diego Maradona first-hand at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, a tournament that belonged entirely to the Argentine despite Lineker winning the Golden Boot. That quarter-final between England and Argentina remains one of the most talked-about matches in football history, featuring both the infamy of the Hand of God and what is widely considered the greatest individual goal ever scored. Lineker experienced both the genius and the controversy of Maradona up close, and whatever feelings that defeat stirred at the time, few who played against him could deny that he was something truly extraordinary. In the years since, the two met on numerous occasions and largely moved beyond the tensions of that day, developing a mutual respect that grew into a friendly rapport.
Maradona carried a nation on his back and delivered a World Cup almost through sheer force of will. He then went to Napoli, a club that had never won a league title, and dragged them to two Serie A crowns against the might of much bigger Italian clubs. Even after his passing in 2020, much like Pelé, his legacy will be untouchable.
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi
There are no surprises at the top. Lineker has been one of Lionel Messi’s most vocal admirers throughout the Argentine’s career, consistently championing him as the greatest to ever play the game. For him, there has rarely been any real debate, and it’s easy to see why. Eight Ballon d’Or awards, four Champions League titles, a Copa América and finally, the World Cup winner’s medal in Qatar in 2022, the one honour that completed the set and silenced any remaining doubters. It was the crowning moment of a career that had already redefined what week-on-week excellence looked like at the elite level.
Having spent his playing and broadcasting career studying the very best, Lineker will tell you that nobody has ever done it quite like Messi. The vision, the dribbling, the goals and the assists, all delivered consistently at the highest level for nearly two decades. Just as impressive is the way he's adapted his game over time, evolving from an explosive winger to a deeper, more complete playmaker, extending his influence well into his late 30s, even as he continues his career in the MLS. Lineker has long maintained that Messi is the finest footballer to have ever lived, so seeing him at the top of this is no surprise at all.