GARY LINEKER did not hesitate when asked who the best footballer was that he played alongside.
The retired striker starred alongside the likes of Alan Shearer and Paul Gascoigne during his career.
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Lineker, 64, featured for clubs such as Tottenham Hotspur, Everton and Barcelona before hanging up his boots in 1994.
He also earned 80 caps for England and featured alongside other legends such as Peter Shilton, Chris Waddle and Bryan Robson.
But it was none of his English compatriots that he believed were the best he played with.
Lineker insisted the best player he lined up with was Argentine star Diego Maradona.
During a snooker match with Stephen Hendry he revealed he played with the mercurial forward during a Rest of the World match.
He said: “Well, I only played with him for half a game, but it was Diego Maradona.”
Hendry then asked if Lineker thought that the skilful forward would have been successful in today’s game.
Lineker replied: “Yeah, as in those days he would have been kicked to bits.”
Maradona is considered one of the best to ever grace the football pitch.
He captained his homeland of Argentina to World Cup glory in 1986, during which he scored the infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal against England.
Maradona ended his playing career in 1997 at Boca Juniors, having enjoyed spells at Napoli, Barcelona and Sevilla while in Europe.
He was prolific on the pitch and scored 348 goals across 690 appearances in domestic and international football.
After hanging up his boots, he went into management and even coached the Argentina national side.
He passed away at the age of 60 from a heat attack in 2020.
Meanwhile, during the snooker match with Hendry, Lineker was able to showcase his impressive cue skills.
He admitted that he was no stranger to the felt and would often play during his time in Spain.
Lineker’s most regular team-mates
Here is a list of the players that featured alongside Gary Lineker the most during his career…
- Pat van den Hauwe – 163 matches
- Gary Mabutt – 139 matches
- Andoni Zubizarreta – 137 matches
- Robert Fernández – 129 matches
- Paul Allen – 126 matches
- Paul Stewart – 124 matches
- Steve Sedgley – 117 matches
- Erik Thorstvedt – 114 matches
- David Howells – 112 matches
- Ian Wilson – 105 matches
