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Haaland breaks Shearer's record, sparking podcast banter
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland reached 100 Premier League goals in just 111 appearances this week, eclipsing Alan Shearer's long-standing record of 124 games. The milestone became a lighthearted jab on The Rest Is Football (TRIF), the hit podcast hosted by Shearer, former defender Micah Richards, and ex-England captain Gary Lineker.
"He's officially the top dog, isn't he?" Richards teased during the show. Shearer, coyly conceding Haaland's dominance in 2025, replied: "Well, he's a top dog this year-absolutely, yeah." The trio dissolved into laughter, a signature moment for the podcast, which has dominated UK sports audio since its 2023 launch.
From BBC to Netflix: Lineker's high-stakes pivot
Less than seven months after leaving the BBC, Lineker is set to challenge his former employer with a daily Netflix show during next summer's World Cup in North America. The deal, announced this week, transforms TRIF from a casual video-call podcast into a glossy studio production filmed in New York.
Netflix will feature live reports from England's training camp and fan zones, though Scotland's participation remains unconfirmed. The streamer won't broadcast matches-rights remain with the BBC and ITV-but the move signals a strategic push into sports entertainment. "This is a landmark deal for both sports and video podcasting," said Laura Fisher, an analyst at MIDiA Research.
Global ambitions and financial firepower
Netflix's global reach could catapult Lineker and Goalhanger, the podcast network he co-founded, into new markets. The platform's October deal to host video podcasts across sports, pop culture, and true crime underscores its rivalry with YouTube. Analysts note football's surging popularity in the U.S., where American football, basketball, and baseball dominate.
"For Lineker to ride this wave and cement his place in the U.S. market is a career-defining opportunity," said Minal Modha of Ampere Analysis. Paolo Pescatore, a media analyst at PP Foresight, added that the deal "firmly puts Lineker on the global stage."
The financial stakes are substantial. Reports suggest the Netflix deal will dwarf Lineker's £1.35 million BBC salary, which topped the broadcaster's disclosed pay list in 2025. Goalhanger's accounts show retained earnings surged to £2.03 million in 2024, up from £590,000 the prior year, with cash reserves hitting £2.7 million.
Fan skepticism and format risks
Despite the hype, some listeners remain wary. Critics on Apple Podcasts and Spotify have slammed TRIF's frequent ad breaks, with one reviewer calling the hosts' sponsorship reads "nails on a chalkboard." Others complain about pacing-Marina Hyde's rapid delivery on sister show The Rest Is Entertainment and Richard Osman's interruptions draw mixed reactions.
Callum Ritchie, a 23-year-old student and amateur footballer, told the BBC he prefers podcasts filmed in-studio, like Gary Neville's The Overlap. "There's more appeal if they're together," he said, noting TRIF's remote-video format feels less engaging.
Modha cautioned that big-money deals can alienate fans. "Lineker won't want to lose his base," she said, suggesting celebrity guests or broader entertainment angles could help widen appeal.
A blueprint for sports media's future?
Rory Smith, The Observer's football correspondent, praised Lineker's "forward-thinking" approach to reaching new audiences. "There will be a real scramble for attention during the World Cup," he said, noting the market's saturation with innovative content like Neville's The Overlap.
Smith acknowledged the risk of polarizing tastes: "Not everyone wants in-depth tactics or lighthearted banter. But if it's on Netflix or YouTube, that's where the audience is."
Lineker, who declined an interview for this article, reflected on his BBC exit in a recent Standard interview. "I was going to finish after the 2026 World Cup anyway," he said. "Now I'm free to do what I want-we'll do a podcast every day."
The move follows his 2024 departure from Match of the Day after a social media controversy involving a post about Zionism that included an illustration of a rat, historically tied to antisemitic tropes. Lineker denied intent but called stepping back "the responsible course."
What's next for Lineker and Goalhanger?
Founded in 2014 as Goalhanger Films, the company pivoted to podcasts and now claims seven million monthly listeners for TRIF alone. Its shows dominate Spotify's UK top 10, and it won UK Audio Brand of the Year at the 2025 Audio and Radio Industry Awards.
As the World Cup approaches, the Netflix experiment will test whether Lineker's blend of humor, star power, and global distribution can redefine sports media. For now, fans and critics alike are watching-some with skepticism, others with curiosity.
"It may not be to everybody's taste. But if it's on Netflix, that's where the audience is."
Rory Smith, The Observer
