Gary Lineker vs Kevin Keegan: Stats Compared
Striker, England (born 1960, retired 1994) · Forward, England (born 1951, retired 1984)
Set Gary Lineker alongside Kevin Keegan and the numbers start an argument of their own. Honours are what separate great players from trophy-laden legends, and both qualify. Career output puts Gary Lineker at 330 goals in 567 games, with Kevin Keegan at 240 in 700. Assists were never formally recorded across most of their eras, so the playmaking dimension has to be judged on reputation and highlights rather than hard totals. In major honours Gary Lineker collected 9 — headlined by 1× Copa del Rey (1988) — whereas Kevin Keegan amassed 6, led by 1× European Cup (1977). One lifted trophies through ruthless reliability, the other through mercurial moments that decided finals. The wider career context matters too: Gary Lineker peaked around 1986 after representing Leicester City, Everton, Barcelona, Tottenham, while Kevin Keegan's defining level came around 1978 across Scunthorpe United, Liverpool, Hamburger SV, Southampton, Newcastle United. Arguments will run and run, which is exactly why the matchup endures.
159 words · comparison angle: trophies
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.”
A two-time Ballon d'Or winner, Keegan was English football's first true superstar of the television era, winning the European Cup with Liverpool before dazzling in the Bundesliga.
“An energetic, tirelessly hard-running forward whose enthusiasm and clever movement made him far more effective than his modest frame suggested.”
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× European Cup (1977)
- 3× English First Division (1973, 1976, 1977)
- 2× UEFA Cup (1973, 1976)
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
- 1968 Professional debut for Scunthorpe United
- 1977 Won European Cup with Liverpool
- 1973 Won UEFA Cup with Liverpool
- 1978 Reached the peak of his powers at Hamburger SV
- 1984 Retired after a final spell at Newcastle United
- Finished his career with 240 goals in 700 appearances and 6 major honours. Finished his career with 240 goals in 700 appearances and 6 major honours.
The verdict
If forced to pick, Gary Lineker is the choice: a clear margin, with a sharper goalscoring record the deciding factor.
Gary Lineker edges it (a clear margin)
