Gary Winston Lineker (Leicester, 1960) played for Barça for three years (1986-89) and scored 42 goals in 103 matches.
He was a prolific goalscorer and, as such a legend, was inducted into the Football Hall of Fame in Pachuca, Mexico, on Tuesday. There he met with MARCA. After leaving the BBC, the legendary England striker is dedicated to his own projects, but is not currently involved with any club. Communication has always been his passion.
Question: You have just been inducted as a new member of the Pachuca Football Hall of Fame. How does it feel to receive such an honor for your football career?
Answer: I was very lucky as a football player, and in Mexico, especially, I played in the 1986 World Cup almost 40 years ago. So I have great memories of this country called Mexico.
Q: You played for Barcelona for three seasons. What do you remember about that time?
A: It was an incredible time. For me, Barça is a club I greatly admire and love. It's very special to me.
Q: What do you think of Hansi Flick's current Barça?
A: Very good. They're a team that plays a style of football we enjoy watching. Their matches are high-scoring and very entertaining. They have some very good players, and Lamine Yamal, in particular, has an extraordinary future. The appeal for English fans is that Marcus Rashford is also there, and he's doing very well.
Q: Are you surprised by your compatriot's adaptation?
A: No, because I've known him very well for a long time. He's a guy who, if he's happy and scores goals, can perform very well. And at Barça, he hasn't had any problems so far; he's played a lot and is doing very well, in my opinion.
Q. Choose: Gary Lineker at 28 in his prime, or the current Robert Lewandowski?
A. I'm already very old [laughs]. So, I choose Robert. For me, Lewandowski is one of the best number 9s of all time. He knows very well how to play in that position, and besides, he's a natural goalscorer. He has great composure when finishing, and I love him as a goalscorer.
Q. The Champions League, in the last decade, has (often) been a battle between the Premier League and La Liga. Do you see it that way again this year?
A. The usual suspects will be there: Real Madrid, Barça, Man. City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Bayern...
Q. Could this be Arsenal's year?
A. It's always very difficult to win this trophy, but Arsenal is a very good team, and this year they have a better chance with a much stronger squad than before. It could be their year, absolutely.
Q: What's your prediction for the World Cup? Do you see Spain or England as clear favorites?
A: Spain is among the top contenders. They have a fantastic team. England has very good players and a chance, but, as we know, it's very difficult for our country to win a World Cup. I also think France and Argentina have a chance, and let's not forget, they still have a Messi playing at a very high level.