Gary Lineker: Stepping Away from Match of the Day

Gary Lineker, former England captain and longstanding host of 'Match of the Day,' will leave the BBC at the season's end. Having led the show since 1999, he will exit after covering the 2026 World Cup. Lineker topped the BBC's pay list in the 2023-24 financial year.

Former England captain Gary Lineker is set to step down as host of Britain's flagship football programme, 'Match of the Day,' according to British media reports on Monday. Lineker, aged 63, has been the face of the show since 1999 and is expected to leave the BBC following his coverage of the 2026 World Cup.

Lineker, who once played for premier clubs such as Leicester City, Everton, and Tottenham Hotspur, is the highest-paid presenter at the BBC, commanding a salary of over 1.35 million pounds in the 2023-24 financial year. As of now, the BBC has not released an official statement about his departure.

Despite speculation surrounding his future, Lineker continues as a leading figure in football commentary, having shaped the public broadcast of the beautiful game for over two decades.

(With inputs from agencies.)