Gary Lineker makes health admission as he reveals he had to give up playing golf

Gary Lineker has opened up about his decision to quit , citing mild arthritis as a key reason for stepping away from the sport. The former England striker, who graced the pitches for Tottenham and Leicester, retired in 1994 with 80 caps for England. Lineker has now been a familiar face on television since becoming the lead presenter for the BBC's flagship football programme, in 1999 - .

Despite his love for golf during and after his illustrious football career, has now revealed that an arthritic condition in his fingers, coupled with a wrist injury, has led him to abandon the fairways. Speaking on Stephen Hendry's Cue Tips YouTube channel, Lineker said: "No, I don't, no," when asked if he still plays golf, adding: "My finger is a bit arthritic."

While reflecting on his journey into golf, Lineker said: "Well, it was actually because I was playing and playing, and I loved it - but I didn't really like myself on the golf course. I used to big myself up quite a lot and get miserable all the time. Nine times out of 10, you're miserable in golf.

"Then I got injured. I hurt my wrist hitting a root, and it damaged it. I couldn't play for six months. I was like, 'Oh, this is the end of the world'.

"Then, a month later, I'm thinking, 'I don't miss it at all.' And when I went back to playing, I was struggling, and after three hours, I was thinking, 'God, I've got another four-and-a-half hours of this!' So I just stopped, and I actually don't miss it. It's really weird."

Arthritis is a common ailment that inflames joints, leading to pain and stiffness. According to NHS data, it affects numerous Brits across all age groups.

Symptoms typically present as joint pain, tenderness, stiffness, inflammation, and restricted mobility. And though golf has been struck from his exercise roster due to his arthritis, Lineker remains devoted to regular intensive workouts and maintaining a strict diet.

"I work out really hard," Lineker told the Evening Standard in 2023. "I do at least three sessions in the gym every week, and then I'll do Pilates as well, and I only really eat one major meal a day. Breakfast I don't eat.

"Then, I'll either have a nibble in the evening if I've had lunch or graze during the day on nuts and fruit."