Alan Shearer celebrated Gary Lineker's birthday by jokingly telling the Match of the Day host that his free bus pass "has arrived" and is waiting for him back home.
Lineker turned 62 on Wednesday and is still four-and-a-half years away from redeeming his free older person's bus pass, yet that didn't stop his former England team-mate Shearer having a cheeky dig during the BBC's live coverage of the World Cup in Qatar.
The banter unfolded during Argentina's 2-0 win against Poland - a result sent both teams through to the knockout stages of the tournament. Shearer, sitting alongside Rio Ferdinand and Pablo Zabaleta, kindly handed Shearer a cake to celebrate his birthday.
Yet Shearer's comments weren't as generous. He told Lineker: "Also to everyone who doesn't know, we've got you a little something, Gary, it's your birthday. How lucky are you to be watching one of if not the best players ever [Lionel Messi] on your birthday?
"Another thing though, we've had a call from your boys, your bus pass has arrived and if life was on a golf course, do you know you'd be on the 16th by now?"
Lineker laughed and replied: "Well I hope there are two par fives to play!"
What do you make of Alan Shearer's banter? Let us know in the comments below!
Lineker received several happy birthday messages on social media, including ones from the official Twitter accounts of Tottenham and La Liga. "Happy 70th to my great mate Links," joked ex-goalkeeper Peter Shilton, who played alongside Lineker for England.
He replied to the 73-year-old: "Steady on goalie, I'm not that close to your age."
Alan Shearer can laugh at Lineker now, but the 52-year-old is only eight years away from being eligible for a free bus pass in London. Those over 60 can use public transport for free inside the capital, while those outside of London must wait until the state pension age.
Lineker has enjoyed a remarkable career in football and broadcasting during his 62 years on the planet. The Leicester lad was one of the most prolific strikers of his generation, scoring more than 300 goals for club and country during his playing days.
Lineker represented his boyhood club and the likes of Everton, Barcelona and Tottenham - as well as England 80 times. He won three major trophies - the European Cup Winners' Cup, Copa del Rey and FA Cup - and the Golden Boot at the 1986 World Cup. He was also part of the England squad that reached the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup.
Lineker retired from playing after leaving Japanese side Nagoya Grampus in 1994 and entered the media as a pundit before succeeding Des Lynam as Match of the Day's primary presenter. The ex-striker has presented on the BBC for more than two decades and is one of the most influential figures in English football, boasting 8.6million followers on Twitter.
