Gary Lineker has revealed that he thought he was going to die during the World Cup match that launched his career. Forty years after his breakthrough international tournament, the former England striker reflected on the intense heat conditions at Mexico 1986.
Lineker's Harrowing Experience
Speaking to The i Paper, Lineker described the match against Poland as 'murder, absolute murder.' England played three times in Monterrey, with kick-off times of 12pm and 4pm, and temperatures reaching 42 degrees Celsius. During his hat-trick performance, Lineker said: 'In the second half of that game, I really did think I was going to keel over and I might be a goner.' He added that his legs had gone and he felt dizzy from heat and exhaustion, but there were no drinks breaks at the time.
Changes in Modern Football
With the current World Cup being held in North America, concerns about heat have been raised, particularly in Mexico and the southern US. Modern regulations allow for drinks breaks in stifling conditions, a stark contrast to 1986.
Life After the BBC
Lineker stepped down as Match of the Day host in May 2025 after 26 years, following controversy over political posts on social media. He now hosts 'The Rest Is Football' on Netflix for the World Cup, alongside Micah Richards and Alan Shearer. He said: 'I've got a bit more time, I'm not treading on quite so many eggshells these days.' He expressed surprise that the BBC is keeping most presenters in the UK until the final week, but stressed his show is not in competition with the broadcaster.
