The departure of Gary Lineker from Match of the Day has got me thinking about money. The former England striker was, as we all know, the BBC’s highest-paid presenter, earning £1.35 million a year. The Corporation would have argued that that was the market value for such “talent”,

Gary Lineker, the BBC's highest-paid presenter, is set to quit 'Match of the Day' next year before leaving the BBC after the 2026 World Cup.

The BBC has confirmed that Match of the Day host Gary Lineker is to step down from the flagship football show at the end of this season, but will host BBC Sport’s coverage of the 2026 World Cup. He will also front the BBC's coverage of the FA Cup 2025/2026.