Gary Lineker vs Carlos Tevez: Stats Compared
Striker, England (born 1960, retired 1994) · Striker, Argentina (born 1984, retired 2021)
Gary Lineker versus Carlos Tevez is a clash of two unmistakable footballing identities. Position shapes everything in football, and these two fulfilled very different briefs. The raw numbers read 330 goals in 567 outings for Gary Lineker (0.58/game), versus 280 in 700 for Carlos Tevez (0.40/game). Assists were not reliably tracked for much of their careers, which makes the playmaking comparison an imperfect one; where records exist, Gary Lineker is credited with 0 and Carlos Tevez with 90. In major honours Gary Lineker collected 9 — headlined by 1× Copa del Rey (1988) — whereas Carlos Tevez amassed 5, led by 1× Premier League (2012). As a striker Gary Lineker bent the role to a ruthless template; as a striker, Carlos Tevez redefined it with flair-driven authority. The wider career context matters too: Gary Lineker peaked around 1986 after representing Leicester City, Everton, Barcelona, Tottenham, while Carlos Tevez's defining level came around 2011 across Boca Juniors, Corinthians, West Ham United, Manchester United, Manchester City, Juventus, Boca Juniors, Shanghai Shenhua, Boca Juniors. The honest conclusion is that comparison enriches appreciation rather than crowns a single winner.
185 words · comparison angle: role
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 tenacious, street-smart Argentine striker known as 'El Apache', beloved for his relentless work rate and hunger for goals.
“A combative, low-centre-of-gravity forward who pressed relentlessly and thrived on scrappy, instinctive finishes.”
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× Premier League (2012)
- 2× Serie A (2014, 2015)
- 1× Copa Libertadores (2003)
- 1× Argentine Primera División (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
- 2001 Professional debut for Boca Juniors
- 2012 Won Premier League with Manchester City
- 2003 Won Argentine Primera División with Boca Juniors
- 2011 Reached the peak of his powers at Manchester City
- 2021 Retired after a final spell at Boca Juniors
- Finished his career with 280 goals in 700 appearances and 5 major honours. Finished his career with 280 goals in 700 appearances and 5 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)
