Gary Lineker stirred debate by snubbing Liverpool in his selection of the world’s top three football clubs, opting instead for Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Manchester United.
Liverpool has experienced both rivalry and defeat to these clubs, with United being English adversaries and Los Blancos outplaying the Reds twice in recent Champions League finals.
Liverpool has also seen significant talent like Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho moving to Barça and Real Madrid, and Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to be joining Los Blancos next.
Despite Liverpool’s impressive record of six European titles which eclipses Barcelona’s and United’s, Lineker, on La Liga TV in 2023, expressed his view: “I think in the world’s big three football clubs, it’s probably Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United in terms of stature.
“We all know Real Madrid is a proper football club. I’m biased towards Barcelona [as a former player], we don’t love Real Madrid in Barcelona to put it mildly. But they are a sensational football club and an incredibly successful football club that play brilliant football.”
Lineker’s tenure as presenter of Match of the Day comes to an end this weekend, bringing his iconic career with the BBC to its conclusion sooner than expected; originally he was to remain involved with live FA Cup matches and the 2026 World Cup after stepping down from presenting Premier League highlights.
He announced his departure from the BBC after this weekend, a decision he made on his own following a controversial social media post about Zionism that included a rat emoji.
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In an online video, he expressed: “Hi everyone, some personal news. Last week I shared a post here on Instagram that contained an emoji that has awful connotations.
“Unfortunately, I did not see the emoji. If I had, I would never, ever have shared it. The minute I was made aware, I quickly deleted the post and went on to make an apology.
“I would like once again to say I’m sorry unreservedly for the hurt and the upset caused. It was a genuine mistake and oversight, but I should have been more diligent. I know that.
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“Football has been at the heart of my life for as long as I can remember – both on the pitch and in the studio. I care deeply about the game, and about the work I’ve done with the BBC over many years.
“As I’ve said, I would never consciously repost anything anti-semitic – it goes against everything I stand for. However, I recognise the error and upset that I caused, and reiterate how sorry I am. Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action.”
