Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
FourFourTwo
FourFourTwo
Sport
Chris Flanagan

‘Sir Gary Lineker? I don’t know how you comment on that – I’ve never even considered it. I just try to stand up for the things I believe in’ England legend tells FFT why he won’t stop raising humanitarian issues, even if it affects potential honours

Gary Lineker.

Gary Lineker has had a hugely successful career as a goalscorer, television presenter and podcast guru – over the decades, it’s made him a national treasure.

Lineker became an OBE in 1992 at the end of his England career – given his achievements, it perhaps wouldn’t be the biggest surprise if a knighthood came his way some day.

Among those who have received the honour so far have been Alex Ferguson, Alf Ramsey, Matt Busby, Bobby Robson, Walter Winterbottom, Kenny Dalglish, Bobby Charlton, Geoff Hurst, Stanley Matthews, Tom Finney and Trevor Brooking.

Gary Lineker asked about potential honours

Gary Lineker at the Hay Festival, May 2024 (Image credit: Alamy)

When it’s suggested to him he might not be entirely out of place on the list of British footballers with a knighthood, he’s briefly stumped about how to respond, during an exclusive chat with FourFourTwo.

“I don’t know how you comment on that, because you either say, ‘I wouldn’t take it’ or, ‘Yeah, why haven’t I got one!’” he jokes. “I’ve never even considered it, to be fair.”

Gary Lineker playing for England at the 1986 World Cup (Image credit: Alamy)

Lineker has sometimes been forthright about his political views in the past, criticising the Conservative government over their handling of asylum seekers in 2023, calling their policy “immeasurably cruel”.

It’s possible that has proved a barrier to further honours in the past, rather than his actual achievements. “Who knows, I don’t know,” he says.

He won’t stop standing up for the things he believes in, either way. “No, that’s way more important,” he confirms.

Gary Lineker shot exclusively for FourFourTwo magazine, March 2025 (Image credit: Nick Eagle)

“You’ve got certain values and you can disagree with things, that’s fine. I don’t mind it as long as you do it in a reasonable manner. But I try to stand up for things I believe are important.

“People say, ‘Oh, you’ve got a view on everything’. I haven’t. It’s just looking at how we treat each other. I find hatred tough to understand. There are subjects I feel are very important, have read a lot of stuff on and understood a little more. Humanitarian issues.”

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.