Gary Lineker vs Juan Román Riquelme: Stats Compared
Striker, England (born 1960, retired 1994) · Attacking Midfielder, Argentina (born 1978, retired 2015)
Gary Lineker and Juan Román Riquelme represent two answers to the same question: how do you define a great? Goals are the coldest, hardest metric in football, and both players stockedpile them. Gary Lineker finishes with 330 career goals from 567 games — a 0.58 strike rate — against Juan Román Riquelme's 130 from 550 at 0.24 per match. Modern assist data only covers part of their careers, so creativity is hard to compare cleanly — Gary Lineker is listed at 0 and Juan Román Riquelme at 100 where figures survive. Gary Lineker departs the game with 9 major pieces of silverware, including 1× Copa del Rey (1988); Juan Román Riquelme with 8, including 3× Copa Libertadores (2000, 2001, 2007). Where Gary Lineker was a flair-driven presence in the box, Juan Román Riquelme offered a silky approach to goalscoring. The wider career context matters too: Gary Lineker peaked around 1986 after representing Leicester City, Everton, Barcelona, Tottenham, while Juan Román Riquelme's defining level came around 2007 across Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Villarreal, Boca Juniors. Few pairings invite such entrenched disagreement, and fewer still deserve it this much.
186 words · comparison angle: goalscoring
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.”
An unhurried, languid Argentine No.10 whose vision and close control made him the last great exponent of the classic South American enganche playmaker.
“A slow-paced but supremely elegant playmaker who dictated tempo with pinpoint passing and a low centre of gravity.”
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)
- 3× Copa Libertadores (2000, 2001, 2007)
- 2× Intercontinental Cup (2000, 2003)
- 3× Argentine Primera División (1998, 1999, 2000)
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
- 1996 Professional debut for Boca Juniors
- 2000 Won Copa Libertadores with Boca Juniors
- 1998 Won Argentine Primera División with Boca Juniors
- 2007 Reached the peak of his powers at Villarreal
- 2015 Retired after a final spell at Boca Juniors
- Finished his career with 130 goals in 550 appearances and 8 major honours. Finished his career with 130 goals in 550 appearances and 8 major honours.
The verdict
On balance Gary Lineker edges the comparison. The margin is a clear margin, decided mostly by a sharper goalscoring record.
Gary Lineker edges it (a clear margin)
