Gary Lineker vs Rivelino: Stats Compared
Striker, England (born 1960, retired 1994) · Left Midfielder, Brazil (born 1946, retired 1981)
Gary Lineker against Rivelino is the kind of comparison that fuels pub arguments for hours. Position shapes everything in football, and these two fulfilled very different briefs. Across his senior career Gary Lineker notched 330 goals in 567 appearances (0.58 per game), while Rivelino recorded 238 in 624 (0.38 per game). 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 Rivelino amassed 8, led by 1× FIFA World Cup (1970). The striker duties of Gary Lineker leaned clinical; the left midfielder responsibilities of Rivelino leaned dictatorial. Their routes to the top were distinct: Gary Lineker built his reputation across Leicester City, Everton, Barcelona, Tottenham, peaking around 1986, while Rivelino reached his defining level around 1970 after spells with Corinthians, Fluminense, Al-Hilal. Arguments will run and run, which is exactly why the matchup endures.
167 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.”
Roberto Rivellino (born 1 January 1946), known mononymously as Rivellino, is a Brazilian football pundit and former player. He was a key member of Brazil’s 1970 FIFA World Cup-winning team and played as an attacking midfielder. He was renowned for his moustache, powerful long-range shooting, accurate passing, close control, dribbling and bending free kicks.
“A left-footed conductor famous for the elastico, fierce shooting and daring switches of play.”
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 (1970)
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
- 1962 Established himself at Corinthians
- 1966 Reached his defining peak
- 1970 Delivered a landmark season
- 1981 Retired from professional football
The verdict
Weighing production, silverware and profile, the two finish within a whisker of each other. Call it a respectful draw — greatness of this calibre resists a single winner.
Too close to call — a respectful draw
