Gary Lineker vs Kaká: Stats Compared
Striker, England (born 1960, retired 1994) · Attacking Midfielder, Brazil (born 1982, retired 2017)
Line up Gary Lineker next to Kaká and the contrasts come quickly. Comparing across positions is never straightforward, and these two asked different questions of opponents. On production alone, Gary Lineker posted 330 goals across 567 appearances while Kaká managed 237 across 594. Because assists were not systematically tracked for much of their time, that side of the comparison rests on the footage that survives. Trophy counts give Gary Lineker 9 and Kaká 6, with 1× Copa del Rey (1988) and 1× FIFA World Cup (2002) the standout honours respectively. The striker duties of Gary Lineker leaned mercurial; the attacking midfielder responsibilities of Kaká leaned silky. Their routes to the top were distinct: Gary Lineker built his reputation across Leicester City, Everton, Barcelona, Tottenham, peaking around 1986, while Kaká reached his defining level around 2007 after spells with São Paulo, AC Milan, Real Madrid, Orlando City. Each, in his own way, set a standard the other is measured against.
159 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.”
Brazilian attacking midfielder and 2007 Ballon d'Or winner; Champions League winner with AC Milan in 2007.
“A tall, graceful attacking midfielder who glided past defenders and finished with precision.”
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× FIFA World Cup (2002)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2007)
- 2× FIFA Confederations Cup (2005, 2009)
- 1× Serie A (2004)
- 1× La Liga (2012)
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 São Paulo breakthrough
- 2002 World Cup winner (limited role)
- 2003 Signed for AC Milan
- 2005 Lost the Champions League final in Istanbul
- 2007 Champions League winner and Ballon d'Or winner
- 2009 Record transfer to Real Madrid
- 2017 Retired at Orlando City
The verdict
The numbers give Kaká the lead — a clear margin, courtesy of a stronger all-round attribute profile.
Kaká edges it (a clear margin)
