Gary Lineker vs Per Mertesacker: Stats Compared
Striker, England (born 1960, retired 1994) · Centre-Back, Germany (born 1984, retired 2018)
Set Gary Lineker alongside Per Mertesacker and the numbers start an argument of their own. They belonged to different eras, which makes any direct comparison a test of imagination as much as statistics. Across his senior career Gary Lineker notched 330 goals in 567 appearances (0.58 per game), while Per Mertesacker recorded 15 in 550 (0.03 per 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 Per Mertesacker with 5. Gary Lineker departs the game with 9 major pieces of silverware, including 1× Copa del Rey (1988); Per Mertesacker with 4, including 1× FIFA World Cup (2014). Across the 1980s and the modern era respectively, their ruthless and commanding styles captured the spirit of very different footballing times. Context beyond the headline totals is important: Gary Lineker's landmark level arrived around 1986 with a career spanning Leicester City, Everton, Barcelona, Tottenham; Per Mertesacker's came around 2014 across Hannover 96, Werder Bremen, Arsenal. Rank them how you like — both names are carved into the sport's permanent record.
187 words · comparison angle: era
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 towering, calm German centre-back nicknamed 'BFG' by Arsenal fans, Mertesacker started every match of Germany's triumphant 2014 World Cup campaign.
“A commanding, positionally intelligent centre-back whose reading of the game compensated for a lack of raw pace.”
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 (2014)
- 3× FA Cup (2014, 2015, 2017)
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 Hannover 96
- 2014 Won FIFA World Cup with Arsenal
- 2014 Won FA Cup with Arsenal
- 2014 Reached the peak of his powers at Arsenal
- 2018 Retired after a final spell at Arsenal
- Finished his career with 15 goals in 550 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 15 goals in 550 appearances and 4 major honours.
The verdict
The numbers give Gary Lineker the lead — a decisive margin, courtesy of a sharper goalscoring record.
Gary Lineker edges it (a decisive margin)
