Born in 1960, he made his name with local club, Leicester City, and then with Everton.
After one successful season with the Toffees, he was snapped up by Barcelona, and helped them to win the Spanish championship before coming back to Britain to play for Spurs.
Lineker knows a thing or two about World Cup football.
He won the Golden Boot at the 1986 finals in Mexico and was a key figure four years later during England's run to the semi-finals.
After retiring from the game, Lineker embarked on a TV career and hosted live coverage of the 1998 World Cup in France.
And he also appears regularly on BBC Sport's Match of the Day and irreverent sports quiz They Think It's All Over.
He and his wife Michelle have four sons.