The 30 best players in World Cup history
By James Dudko
25. Gary Lineker, England
Scoring 10 goals across two World Cups more than justifies Gary Lineker’s place on this list. Years have passed, but fans of the Three Lions shouldn’t forget their nation’s most gifted striker.
England have had many outstanding strikers. Alan Shearer, Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney were all among the best in the world during their primes.
Yet Lineker was better than all of them.
He set about making his mark by scoring six times in 1986. A hat-trick against Poland was the standout moment.
Memorable moments weren’t in short supply in Italy four years later. Lineker found the net four times to help England reach the semifinal.
Although he was on the losing side after a titanic penalty shootout against Germany, Lineker had successfully spearheaded the Three Lions’ best side since they won the cup in 1966.
His pace and appetite for goal made Lineker a nuisance for every top defender on the global stage. But his instincts for when and where chances would come truly set Lineker apart at the highest level.