Gary Lineker’s Famous Match of the Day Moment and What Made Him Cry | Football | Sport

Gary Lineker has revealed his most memorable and terrifying moments on Match of the Day. The Tottenham Hotspur and England icon is preparing for his final season as host of the BBC’s flagship football highlights show.

Lineker, 63, who has been at the helm since 1999, will continue to lead coverage of the 2026 World Cup but will step back from weekly Premier League summaries after then. During his long tenure with the team, he witnessed many highs and lows, but both peaks and lows came with his beloved Leicester City.

The moment he called the worst is remembered fondly by Match of the Day viewers.

When Lineker was asked to name his best moment on The Rest Is Football podcast, he was quick to say: “You know the moment when Leicester won the league.” When asked by Mick Richards if he only enjoyed performing in a pair of Leicester-style boxing shorts, he admitted: “No, not these, those were my least favorite shorts.”

Lineker found himself in front of a BBC camera without his trousers or shirt after making a rash bet. In the astonishing 2015/16 season, he promised to run the program in his underwear if Leicester, who were starting odds of 5,000/1, managed to win the Premier League title.

The Foxes won the title. Although he regrets having to undress, the joy of this moment remains unforgettable for him.

Looking back, he said: “My favorite moment was when Leicester lifted the Premier League trophy on the last day of the season. When Claudio Ranieri came out with (Andrea) Bocelli.

“I was so excited. I sat in the office with tears streaming down my cheeks. That was definitely my favorite moment.”

When asked by Shearer whether Leicester’s FA Cup victory over Chelsea in the 2021 competition was among his best moments, Lineker reflected on the underdog’s triumph at Wembley Stadium.

Youri Tielemans’ sensational strike from 30 meters brought the coveted trophy under the Wembley arch in a closely fought encounter that also saw ex-Fox Ben Chilwell’s late goal for Chelsea ruled out for offside after dramatic intervention by VAR. Recalling the match, Lineker said: “It was something special.

“But I think we’re talking about the Match of the Day itself, but I think the FA Cup final is the Match of the Day in that sense. Yes, these two. These are two things I thought I would never see.” in my life they were my special ones.”