Gary Lineker is to leave Match Of The Day after 25 years, Sky News understands.

The former England striker will step down at the end of the current football season in May 2025.

It is understood he will stay at the BBC until the end of the next World Cup which is being held in the US, Mexico and Canada in 2026.

This is an extension to Lineker’s contract, that was due to expire next year, to take him until the 2026 World Cup.

His departure from the long-running show was earlier reported by The Sun.

Lineker has hosted the Premier League highlights show since 1999, after his predecessor Des Lynam moved to ITV.

Lineker was briefly removed from Match Of The Day in March 2023 following controversy over comments he made on social media criticising the then Conservative government’s asylum policies.

The row prompted the BBC to launch an independent review of its social media guidelines and Lineker returned to screens soon after.

But the 63-year-old may stay on at the BBC after 2026 working on podcasts – an area where Lineker has been hugely successful in recent years.

The presenter is the co-founder of Goalhanger Podcasts, which produces popular shows The Rest Is History, The Rest Is Politics and The Rest Is Entertainment.

The company, founded in 2014, claims to be the UK’s largest independent podcast firm, and said in September that its podcasts had been downloaded more than 380 million times so far this year.

Lineker presents his own footballing podcast with Goalhanger, The Rest Is Football, alongside Alan Shearer and Micah Richards.

Lineker has been the BBC’s highest-paid star in recent years for his work on shows including Match Of The Day and Sports Personality Of The Year, as well as coverage of major tournaments including World Cups and European Championships.

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He received around £1.35m during the 2023-24 financial year, according to the BBC’s most recent figures.

The corporation has said it is not commenting on the matter.

It is unclear who will take over from Lineker on Match Of The Day. Former Tottenham Hotspur footballer Jermaine Jenas was considered to be his natural successor but he was sacked from the BBC in August over claims of inappropriate behaviour.

Ex Labour communications chief Alastair Campbell, who presents The Rest Is Politics with former Conservative MP Rory Stewart, said Lineker would be “a very hard act to follow”.

“He is an excellent broadcaster and a very good guy,” Campbell told Sky News.

The political commentator also joked that Lineker “sees me as his natural successor… as long as I’m allowed to wear my Burnley ties”.

Before moving into broadcasting, Lineker enjoyed a successful career as a striker, winning 80 caps for England. He also played for Leicester City, Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona.