Gary Lineker vs Edgar Davids: Stats Compared
Striker, England (born 1960, retired 1994) · Defensive Midfielder, Netherlands (born 1973, retired 2011)
Put Gary Lineker and Edgar Davids side by side and you have a genuine generational conversation. Long after the final whistle, what lingers is influence, and each man reshaped his corner of the game. Career output puts Gary Lineker at 330 goals in 567 games, with Edgar Davids at 45 in 600. Modern assist data only covers part of their careers, so creativity is hard to compare cleanly — Gary Lineker is listed at 0 and Edgar Davids at 40 where figures survive. Gary Lineker departs the game with 9 major pieces of silverware, including 1× Copa del Rey (1988); Edgar Davids with 4, including 1× UEFA Champions League (1995). History will file Gary Lineker under ruthless greatness and Edgar Davids under silky greatness — different shelves, same temple. Their routes to the top were distinct: Gary Lineker built his reputation across Leicester City, Everton, Barcelona, Tottenham, peaking around 1986, while Edgar Davids reached his defining level around 2000 after spells with Ajax, AC Milan, Juventus, Barcelona, Internazionale, Tottenham Hotspur, Ajax, Crystal Palace. Greatness, in cases like this, is rarely a zero-sum affair.
183 words · comparison angle: legacy
Player profiles
Gary Winston Lineker (born 30 November 1960) is an English sports broadcaster, businessman, and former professional footballer who played as a striker. Regarded as one of the best players of his generation and one of England's greatest players, Lineker is the only player to have been the top goalscorer in England with three clubs: Leicester City, Everton, and Tottenham Hotspur. He also played for Barcelona in Spain, and won 80 caps for England.
“A model penalty-box striker whose timing and finishing were almost never wasted.”
Nicknamed 'The Pitbull' for his relentless tackling, Davids wore his trademark wraparound goggles and was one of the most feared ball-winners in Europe during Juventus's late-1990s dominance.
“An aggressive, tireless ball-winner whose combativeness and surprising technical quality made him a complete midfield destroyer.”
Head-to-head stats
Career goals by season
Representative career seasons — goals per season for each player across their documented clubs.
Attribute radar
Attribute ratings are peak-era, 0–100. Different positions naturally skew the profile.
Attribute comparison
Trophy breakdown
- 1× Copa del Rey (1988)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (1995)
- 3× Serie A (1998, 2002, 2003)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1978 Established himself at Leicester City
- 1982 Reached his defining peak
- 1986 Delivered a landmark season
- 1994 Retired from professional football
- 1991 Professional debut for Ajax
- 1995 Won UEFA Champions League with Ajax
- 1998 Won Serie A with Juventus
- 2000 Reached the peak of his powers at Juventus
- 2011 Retired after a final spell at Crystal Palace
- Finished his career with 45 goals in 600 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 45 goals in 600 appearances and 4 major honours.
The verdict
The numbers give Gary Lineker the lead — a clear margin, courtesy of a sharper goalscoring record.
Gary Lineker edges it (a clear margin)
