Gary Lineker's verdict on whether he was better than Harry Kane: 'There's no question!' | OneFootball

The England legend also has his say on Thomas Tuchel’s controversial handling of Jude Bellingham ahead of the World Cup

Gary Lineker believes Harry Kane is a better striker than he ever was, but insists football now is an easier game than it was during his playing days.

The England captain still has 14 goals and three assists in 12 Bundesliga appearances, as well as five goals in as many matches in the Champions League.

Kane is the Three Lions' record goalscorer after taking his international tally to 78 during last month's international break, 25 clear of Wayne Rooney in second.

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Lineker is fourth in the standings with 48 goals and enjoyed a stellar playing career than took him across England, Spain and Japan.

However, Lineker has admitted in a wide-ranging interview with The Standard that Kane is capable of things he was not.

Lineker was quick to hail Kane as a more complete player than he was

The FA via Getty Images

“No, Harry Kane’s a better footballer than me," Lineker said.

"I was a pure penalty area goalscorer. I mean, I could do the essentials but Harry could play as a 10. He's hitting 50-yard balls and great passes.

"I was quicker than Harry but there’s no question he’s a better player.”

Lineker spent three seasons at Barcelona in the late 1980s, before returning to England and winning the FA Cup with Tottenham in the 1990-91 campaign.

The 65-year-old, who stepped away from presenting Match of the Day at the end of last season, also won the Golden Boot at the 1986 World Cup, but is confident he would have had even more success playing in the modern game.

“Oh God yes, football is so much easier now," Lineker said. "The surfaces are like billiard tables.”

Lineker points to several factors to support his case, not least that better playing surfaces reduces the risk of injury.

He was a player that did not receive a single yellow or red card during his career, but feels VAR would have provided him more protection from overly physical defenders.

Lineker also believes that defenders now are not as good as they were during his playing days, as emphasised by the stats.

“If you scored around one goal every two games in my era, you were one of the top strikers in football," he said.

"Now it's pretty much a goal per game. That shows you how much the game has changed in favour of strikers.”

Lineker also had his say on Thomas Tuchel’s handling of Jude Bellingham after the Real Madrid star was left out of the England squad in October.

“I think people are trying to make an issue out of the Bellingham and Tuchel thing,” the former Match of the Day host said.

“Jude’s a huge superstar, he’s only just coming back from injury – that’s probably why Tuchel didn’t put him in the last squad.

“He may be trying to make a point to show who’s boss. I suspect he’s not. I very much doubt there is an issue.”

Read the full interview with Gary Lineker on Thursday.