Bale began his professional career atSouthampton, playing as aleft-back before moving to Tottenham in 2007. From the 2009–10 season, under coachHarry Redknapp, Bale transformed into a winger. He received several individual awards in England, including twoPFA Players' Player of the Year awards and threePFA Team of the Year inclusions. He won both the PFA Player of the Year and PFA Young Player awards in the 2012–13 season, becoming the second Premier League player to achieve this feat afterCristiano Ronaldo in 2006–07.[2] In September 2013, Real Madrid signed Bale for a thenworld-record transfer fee of £85.1 million (€100.8 million). Being part of the trio dubbedBBC alongside Cristiano Ronaldo andKarim Benzema, Bale helped Madrid to win theCopa del Rey and theChampions League in 2014, and he scored in both finals. Bale was among the top three nominees for the2015–16 UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award. He had multipleBallon D'Or nominations, with five top 20 finishes and finishing 6th place in2016.
He scored what is widely regarded as one of the greatest goals in a Champions League final,[3][4] abicycle kick during Real Madrid's win in the2018 Champions League final.[5][6] He was awarded theFIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball in2018. In2020–21, he returned to Tottenham onloan before playing his final season in Madrid. In his nine-year tenure, Bale won 15 trophies, including threeLa Liga titles and five Champions Leagues. He joinedMLS clubLos Angeles in July 2022 before retiring in January 2023 at age 33.
Bale made his international debut forWales in May 2006. He had 111 caps for the nation and scored 41 goals, making him Wales'most capped player andtop goalscorer of all time. He was the top goalscorer for Wales in the qualifying rounds forUEFA Euro 2016, scoring seven times; he played every match for Wales in the actual tournament and led Wales to the semi-finals, scoring three goals. He also played inEuro 2020 and helped Wales qualify for the2022 FIFA World Cup, ending a 64-year appearance drought at theWorld Cup for Wales. He was namedWelsh Footballer of the Year a record six times.
Bale was born inCardiff, Wales, to Frank, a school caretaker, and Debbie Bale, an operations manager.[7] He is the nephew of formerCardiff City footballerChris Pike.[8] He attended Eglwys Newydd Primary School inWhitchurch.[9] It was while at this school that he first came to the attention ofSouthampton at age nine, when he was playing in a six-a-side tournament with his first club,Cardiff Civil Service.[10] Growing up, his footballing hero was fellow Welshman andManchester United playerRyan Giggs.[11]
Bale attendedWhitchurch High School in Cardiff.[12] He was a keen athlete; he played football alongside futureWales rugby captainSam Warburton,[13] rugby, hockey and excelled at athletics.[14] As a 14-year-old he says that he ran the100-metre sprint in 11.4 seconds.[11] Because of his superior footballing skill, the school'sPE teacher, Gwyn Morris, had to write special rules which restricted Bale to playingone-touch football and not using his left foot.[13]
Despite being only 16 at the time, Bale helped the school's under-18 team win the Cardiff & Vale Senior Cup. He left school in the summer of 2005 with a Grade A in PE amongst his otherGCSE results. In his final year at school, he was awarded the PE department's prize for services to sport. In the presentation, Morris commented:
"Gareth has a fierce determination to succeed and has the character and qualities to achieve his personal goals. He is one of the most unselfish individuals that I have had the pleasure to help educate."[15]
Club career
Southampton
On 17 April 2006, at the age of 16 years and 275 days, Bale became the second youngest player ever to play for Southampton (afterTheo Walcott, who was 132 days younger) when he made his debut in the Saints' 2–0 victory againstMillwall. On 6 August, Bale scored his first league goal, afree kick, to level the score at 1–1 againstDerby County. The final score atPride Park was 2–2.[16]
He scored again, atSt Mary's, againstCoventry City in the team's second game of the 2006–07 season with another free kick.[17] Bale further developed his reputation as a threat on free kicks when he struck the post from one againstWest Bromwich Albion.[18] By 16 December 2006, Bale's goal count had risen to five, thanks to a late equaliser againstSunderland[19] and free kicks away toHull City[20] and at home toNorwich City.[21]
In December 2006, he won the Carwyn James Award for theBBC Wales Young Sports Personality of the Year,[22] and was named the Football League Young Player of the Year on 4 March 2007.[23] This capped what was described in the local press as an "incredible" first full season as a professional footballer in which he was one of the Saints' "most creative players even (though operating) from the left-back position whilst his defending improved immeasurably as the season progressed."[24]
His final game for Southampton was in the first leg of theChampionship play-off semi-final against Derby County on 12 May 2007. Bale suffered an injury during the second half, preventing him from appearing in the second leg.[25][26] In total, he made 45 appearances for Southampton, scoring five goals.[27]
Tottenham Hotspur
On 25 May 2007, Bale signed a four-year deal withTottenham Hotspur with the club paying an initial £5 million for the player, potentially rising to £10 million based on appearances and success.[28]
2007–2009
Bale in Spurs' line-up before a Premier League match against Chelsea in August 2008
Bale played his first game for Spurs in afriendly againstSt. Patrick's Athletic on 12 July 2007, but was substituted on the 80th minute with a minordead leg. He made his competitive debut for Tottenham Hotspur on 26 August away against Manchester United.[29] On 1 September 2007, in his second Spurs appearance, he scored his first goal for the club in a 3–3 draw withFulham.[30] Bale went on to score againstArsenal in theNorth London derby from a free kick.[31] He then scored in theLeague Cup home tie againstMiddlesbrough.[32]
On 2 December 2007, Bale was substituted after sustaining an injury resulting from a tackle fromFabrice Muamba in the league fixture againstBirmingham City. A scan revealed that Bale had sufferedligament damage to his right ankle, consigning him to an extended period on the sidelines. Bale hadexploratory surgery on 11 December.[33] By February 2008, it became clear that Bale was to miss the rest of the season through injury.[34] Sporting Director of Tottenham,Damien Comolli said, "Even if the examination reveals that Gareth's foot is stable, the decision has been taken to bring him back slowly to ensure he does not get a repeat of the injury or suffer any further damage. Gareth is obviously disappointed to be sidelined for this length of time but he is still young and we have to do what is best for him in the long run."[33]
Bale returned to fitness in August 2008, the same month he signed a new four-year deal with the club,[35] and went on to make 30 appearances for Tottenham in all competitions that season.[36] He picked up his first career red card in a 2–1 defeat atStoke City in October 2008.[37] That season he took part in theLeague Cup final against Manchester United. Bale came off the bench in the 98th minute in extra time with the final result deadlocked at 0–0 resulting in apenalty shoot-out that ended 4–1 to Manchester United.[38]
2009–2011
In June 2009, Bale underwent surgery for a knee injury, ruling him out for over two months. He missed pre-season matches and it was projected that he would miss the first few weeks of the2009–10 season.[39] On 26 September, he made his comeback as an 85th-minute substitute in Tottenham's 5–0 win overBurnley. This was Bale's first ever involvement in a Premier League win, after not being on the winning side since the Southampton move;[40] however, he struggled to break into the first team, in part due toBenoit Assou-Ekotto's form. When Assou-Ekotto was sidelined with an injury, manager Harry Redknapp decided to give Bale a chance and he impressed in Spurs'FA Cup third-round 4–0 win overPeterborough United.[41] His first victory as a starter in a league game came in the 2–0 win overLondon rivals Fulham on 26 January 2010.[42]
Bale's good form continued and he was named Player of the Round after helping Spurs to a 3–1 win in the sixth roundreplay of the FA Cup against Fulham.[43] In April 2010, Bale scored the winning goal in a 2–1 North London derby win against Arsenal, tapping pastManuel Almunia, after a pass fromJermain Defoe.[44] Three days later, Bale scored Tottenham's winning goal with his weaker right foot in a 2–1 victory over league leaders andeventual championsChelsea and was namedman of the match.[45] He was namedPremier League Player of the Month for April 2010.[46] He signed a new four-year contract atWhite Hart Lane on 7 May 2010, as a reward for helping the club reaching a2010–11 UEFA Champions League qualification place.[47]
On 21 August 2010, Bale scored twice in a 2–1 win at Stoke City, the second of which was a head-highvolley into the top right hand corner of the goal.[48] This was later awarded theBBC Goal of the Month for August 2010. On 25 August, Bale set up all four goals to help Spurs overcomeYoung Boys 4–0 (6–3 agg.) in a Champions Leagueplay-off at White Hart Lane.[49] Although Assou-Ekotto had already returned from injury, Bale continued his good form and cemented his place in the starting eleven, with his manager opting him to move to left wing to accommodate Assou-Ekotto at left-back.[50] On 29 September, Bale scored his first Champions League goal for Tottenham in a 4–1 home win against Dutch championsTwente in their second game of the group stages.[51] For his performances, he was named Welsh Player of the Year by theFootball Association of Wales (FAW).[52]
On 20 October, Bale scored his first seniorhat-trick againstEuropean championsInter Milan at theSan Siro in the Champions League. Tottenham lost the match 4–3, having been 4–0 down inside the first 35 minutes and playing with ten men for over 80 minutes of the match after goalkeeperHeurelho Gomes had been sent off in the eighth minute for aprofessional foul on Inter'sJonathan Biabiany.[53] In the return match at White Hart Lane on 2 November, Bale provided a man-of-the-match performance, setting up goals forPeter Crouch andRoman Pavlyuchenko to earn Spurs a memorable 3–1 win.[54]
On 4 November, Bale stated that he intended to remain at Tottenham for the remainder of his recently signed four-year contract, despite reported interest from other clubs,[50] then, in December, he was awarded theBBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year trophy.[55] On 19 March 2011, it was announced he would then extended his stay at the club until 2015.[56] On 17 April, Bale was honoured with thePFA Players' Player of the Year award, as voted for by his peers.[57]
With Spurs, he rose to international attention during the 2010–11 UEFA Champions League with Tottenham.[58][59][60]
2011–2013
Bale playing for Tottenham Hotspur in 2011
Bale scored his first goal of the2011–12 season on 24 September 2011, in an away game againstWigan Athletic. The game ended in a 2–1 victory for Tottenham.[61] He added his second and third goals of the season on 30 October with two goals againstQueens Park Rangers in a 3–1 home win.[62] He continued his good form with the first goal in a 3–1 victory over Fulham the following week, whilst also setting upAaron Lennon who made it 2–0 on the stroke of half time.[63] The first goal against Fulham was later ruled by the "dubious goals committee" to be an own goal byChris Baird.[64]
On 3 December, Bale scored the first goal in Tottenham's 3–0 victory overBolton Wanderers. He marked the goal with a tribute toGary Speed by holding up his left boot, with "R.I.P Gary Speed" stitched on it, in front of the Bolton fans.[65] On 27 December, Bale scored twice to give Tottenham a 2–0 win against Norwich City.[66] On 5 January 2012, Bale was one of the players voted into the 2011UEFA Team of the Year. He scored his thirdbrace of the season as he scored twice against Wigan, on 31 January to take his tally to ten goals for the season.[67] In January 2012, he was named Premier League Player of the Month for the second time in his career, after three goals and two assists in the Premier League for the month.[68] On 27 June, Bale signed a new four-year contract, committing his future to the club until 2016.[69]
For the 2012–13 season, Bale changed his squad number from 3 to 11 as he was "not a left-back anymore" and had asked the club for a "higher number".[70][71] On 16 September 2012, Bale scored his first goal of the2012–13 season againstReading in a 3–1 away victory.[72] On 29 September, Bale scored the second goal in Tottenham's 3–2 away victory over Manchester United, their first win atOld Trafford since 1989.[73]
He scored his firstPremier League hat-trick in a 4–0 away win on Boxing Day againstAston Villa.[74] On 5 January 2013, Bale scored in theFA Cup third round fixture against Coventry City as well as assistingClint Dempsey on both of his goals in a 3–0 win.[75] On 30 January, Bale scored a magnificent solo effort in the 1–1 draw with Norwich City.[76] Bale then scored against West Bromwich Albion in a 1–0 away win on 3 February.[77] Bale then took his goal tally of the season to 15 goals with a brace againstNewcastle United in a match which Spurs won 2–1. This took Spurs into third place and strengthened their Champions League ambitions.[78]
In Bale's next game, he scored directly from two free kicks, one from 35 yards out just before half time and another from 25 yards out in the dying seconds of injury time, to give Tottenham a 2–1 victory overLyon in the first leg of theirEuropa League round of 32 tie on 14 February. This took Bale to a tally of ten goals in his previous ten appearances.[79] In Tottenham's Premier League match against West Ham on 25 February, Bale scored the first and third in a 3–2 win for Tottenham. His second, a long range dipping strike from over 30 yards, in the dying stages of the game, capped a world class performance. This was his eighth goal in six games.[80]
On 3 March, Bale scored against Arsenal in a North London derby that Tottenham won 2–1.[81] On 7 March, Tottenham faced Inter Milan in theEuropa League, with Bale scoring the opening goal and Tottenham winning 3–0.[82] Bale's run of good form in the early months of 2013 saw him win Premier League Player of the Month for February[83] as well as the BBC Goal of the Month in both January and February for his strikes against Norwich City and West Ham United respectively.[84] On 4 April, Bale injured his right ankle in the first leg of theEuropa League quarter-final againstBasel.[85] On his return from injury, Bale scored a goal and assisted Clint Dempsey as Tottenham beatManchester City at White Hart Lane.[86]
On 28 April, Bale won both the PFA Players' Player of the Year andYoung Player of the Year after his excellent showing in the 2012–13 season.[2] A week later, on 2 May 2013, he added theFWA Footballer of the Year Award from theFootball Writers' Association, making Bale one of only two players who have won all three in the same season – the other beingCristiano Ronaldo, who won them in 2007.[87] Bale scored the winning goal against his former club Southampton on 4 May. The goal gave Spurs a 1–0 win as well as being Bale's 20th in the Premier League in his 200th appearance for Spurs. On 19 May, Bale scored a 90th-minute goal from 25 yards out. This goal gave Spurs a 1–0 win over Sunderland, but was not enough to give themChampions League football for the following season.[88]
Real Madrid
Bale at his Real Madrid unveiling in September 2013
On 1 September 2013, Spanish clubReal Madrid announced that they had reached an agreement for the transfer of Bale,[89] signing a six-year deal in a then world record deal.[90] The Spanish press (andReal Madrid TV) reported that Bale had cost £77 million (€91 million), while the British press reported aworld record transfer fee of £85.3 million (€100 million), which would be above Cristiano Ronaldo's transfer record fee of £80 million (€94 million);[91][92][93] however, in January 2016, documents pertaining to the transfer were leaked byFootball Leaks which confirmed a world record transfer fee of €100.8 million (£85.1 million).[94] Bale's record was surpassed in August 2016 byPaul Pogba's record fee of €105 million (£89.2 million).[95] Bale was assigned the number 11 shirt at Madrid.[96]
2013–2015
The first half of Bale's season was plagued by injuries; of Real's first 16 games after his signing, Bale missed five and was substituted on or off in six others, playing only five full games.[97][98] Bale scored on his Real Madrid debut, a goal coming in the 38th minute againstVillarreal, before being substituted later in the game forÁngel Di María.[99] Bale's second appearance for Madrid came in a 6–1 victory overGalatasaray in the Champions League. Although Bale only played the final 26 minutes, his free kick led to Cristiano Ronaldo's second goal of the game.[100] On 28 September 2013, Bale made his home debut as a second-half substitute in a 1–0 loss to local rivalsAtlético Madrid.[101]
Following a brief appearance againstJuventus in the Champions League,[102] Bale made hisEl Clásico debut on 26 October, but was substituted in the 61st minute.Barcelona won the game 2–1 and Bale's performance drew some media criticism.[103] Four days later, he scored two goals and assisted two in a 7–3 victory againstSevilla. Following his impressive performance the Spanish press nicknamed Bale "The Cannon".[104]
In November, he assisted a further two goals in Madrid's 3–2 victory overRayo Vallecano,[105] before scoring in a 2–2 draw with Juventus in the Champions League.[106] He then scored a 25-yard free kick against Galatasaray in the Champions League, a match which Madrid won 4–1 despite being a man down.[107] On 30 November, Bale rounded off the month with his first hat-trick for Real Madrid, as well as assistingKarim Benzema, in a 4–0 victory overReal Valladolid. It was a "perfect hat-trick": one goal with a header and one with each foot.[108]
"It is difficult to see a player sprint like that at that stage of the game."
—Barcelona coachGerardo Martino on Bale's 85th minute winner for Madrid in the Copa del Rey final.[109]
On 26 February 2014, he scored twice in Real Madrid's 6–1 win againstSchalke 04 in the Champions Leagueround of 16 first leg.[110] He then scored one of the team's three goals in a 3–0 quarter-final win overBorussia Dortmund on 2 April, taking him to five Champions League goals for the season.[111] InLa Liga, he scored four goals in three matches between gameweeks 31 and 33, as Real Madrid defeated Rayo Vallecano (5–0),[112]Real Sociedad (4–0)[113] andAlmería (4–0).[114]
On 16 April, Bale scored the winning goal for Real Madrid with five minutes remaining in the2014 Copa del Rey Final against rivals Barcelona.[115] Considered one of the best goals of his career, Bale outsprinted Barcelona defenderMarc Bartra from the halfway line (with Bale running off the field at one point) before converting past goalkeeperJosé Manuel Pinto.[115] In the post match interview Bale stated, "I had to get round the player and go off the pitch to do it", while his Real Madrid teammateXabi Alonso commented, "It was incredible, I have never seen anything like it".[109] The goal was Bale's 20th of the season and his first in aClásico fixture.[109]
Bale playing for Real Madrid in 2015
On 24 May, Bale scored in the 110th minute of the extra time period to put Real Madrid 2–1 up against city rivals Atlético Madrid in the2014 UEFA Champions League Final, asLos Blancos won their tenth European Cup.[116] The goal made Bale the first Welshman to score a goal in a European Cup/Champions League final.[117] Bale finished his debut season with 22 goals and 16 assists in all competitions.[118] Real Madrid's attacking trio of Bale, Benzema and Cristiano, dubbedBBC, finished the season with 97 goals.[119]
Bale started the2014–15 season in good form, playing the full 90 minutes and assisting Cristiano Ronaldo's first goal in a 2–0 win at theCardiff City Stadium against Sevilla to win the2014 UEFA Super Cup.[120] After the match, his performance was described as "amazing" by Ronaldo.[121] Six days later, Bale scored his first goal of the season in a 4–2 away loss to Real Sociedad.[122] Bale scored twice in Real's 8–2 win overDeportivo La Coruña on 20 September 2014.[123][124]
In December 2014, Bale scored in a third major final, the second goal in a 2–0 win overSan Lorenzo, to help the club win theFIFA Club World Cup.[125] In a match againstEspanyol on 10 January 2015, Bale was booed by a section of Madrid fans who adjudged him as being selfish in shooting for goal and not passing to Ronaldo.[126] Bale was defended by Carlo Ancelotti over this plus difficulties at the end of the season.[127] On 18 April, Bale sustained a calf injury against Málaga.[128]
Bale scored twice in Real's win overReal Betis in September 2015.[119] His two goals took the total number of goals of Madrid's attacking trio of Bale, Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo to 200 goals since they first played together in 2013.[119]
On 20 December 2015, he scored four goals in a 10–2 victory over Rayo Vallecano.[129] On 9 January 2016, Bale scored his second hat-trick of the season in Madrid's 5–0 defeat of Deportivo La Coruña inZinedine Zidane's first match as head coach ofLos Blancos.[130] After being sidelined since 19 January, due to a calf injury he sustained in a 5–1 league victory at home againstSporting Gijón, during which he had also scored the opening goal of the match,[131][132] Bale returned to the pitch on 5 March; he made a substitute appearance in Real Madrid's 7–1 home win overCelta Vigo, scoring Real Madrid's final goal of the match.[133]
On 20 March 2016, Bale scored his 43rd La Liga goal in a 4–0 defeat of Sevilla to surpassGary Lineker as the highest scoring British player in the competition's history.[134] On 23 April, Bale scored twice as Real Madrid came from 0–2 down to win 3–2 at Rayo Vallecano.[135] Bale was a regular starter when the team won the2015–16 UEFA Champions League. He assisted the team's only goal and went on to score in the penalty shoot-out win over Atlético Madrid in thefinal.[136]
On 30 October 2016, Bale signed a new contract with Madrid until 2022.[137] On 22 November 2016, Bale damaged his ankle tendons during the 2–1 victory atSporting CP that would rule him out for up to four months.[138] On 23 April, Bale made his 100th appearance in La Liga in a 3–2 home defeat to Barcelona, but was forced off after sustaining an injury.[139]
Despite suffering several injuries during the season, he managed to feature 19 times for Madrid as they won their 33rdLa Liga title.[140][141] After missing more than a month, he returned to action for the2017 UEFA Champions League Final in his hometown, Cardiff, which Real Madrid won 4–1 over Juventus; Bale made a late second-half substitute appearance, coming on for Benzema.[142]
2017–2021
The 2017–18 season saw some improvement in Bale's goalscoring record across the league, cup competitions and in the Champions League. He featured in Real Madrid's victories in both the2017 UEFA Super Cup[143] and the2017 Supercopa de España,[144] and he also featured in the club's victorious2017 FIFA Club World Cup campaign, winning a third trophy before 2018 had even begun.[145] In La Liga, he made 26 appearances and scored 16 goals but Real Madrid were unable to reclaim the title, finishing in third.[146]
The2017–18 UEFA Champions League saw Bale scoring once prior to the final. This goal came from the match against Borussia Dortmund in the group stages, when he opened the scoring in a 3–1 victory in Germany.[147] In the2018 UEFA Champions League Final, Bale scored two goals, the first anoverhead kick from the edge of the 18-yard box – regarded as one of the greatest goals in Champions League history – before a speculative 40-yard strike that went through the hands of goalkeeperLoris Karius, resulting in a 3–1 victory overLiverpool, to help Real Madrid win their thirteenth Champions League trophy.[148] He became the first substitute to score twice in a Champions League final and was named man of the match.[149][150]
Following the break-up of the BBC trifecta with Ronaldo's transfer to Juventus and the replacement of Zidane by new managerJulen Lopetegui,[151] Bale was ever-present during August 2018 and was awardedCinco Estrellas Mahou for the Real Madrid Player of the Month, scoring againstGetafe andGirona along the way.[152]
On 19 December 2018, Bale scored a hat-trick in a 3–1 win overKashima Antlers in the semi-finals of the2018 FIFA Club World Cup.[153] He became the third player to score a hat-trick in a FIFA Club World Cup match after Cristiano Ronaldo andLuis Suárez.[154] He also became the third player to score in three editions of the competition after Cristiano Ronaldo andLionel Messi.[155] He was awarded the Golden Ball[156] after Real Madrid won the competition by beatingAl Ain FC 4–1 in the final.[157]
On 9 February 2019, Bale scored his 100th goal for Real Madrid after scoring the team's third goal as a substitute in a 3–1 away win over cross-city rivals Atlético Madrid;[158] however, he was also the source of controversy in the media following the match, due to the "provocative" goal celebration that he made towards the opposition fans.[159]
In July 2019, he was close to leaving the club, according to manager Zinedine Zidane,[160] but later that month a proposed transfer to Chinese clubJiangsu Suning was called off by Real Madrid.[161] In October 2019, Bale was said to be "angry" at Real Madrid and wanted to leave,[162] but later that month Zidane said Bale had never asked to leave.[163] Ex-Real Madrid presidentRamón Calderón also said that Bale should return toTottenham Hotspur.[164] He made 16 appearances during the league season, as Real Madrid won the2019–20 La Liga.[165]
2020–2022: Loan to Tottenham Hotspur and departure
On 19 September 2020, Bale returned to Tottenham Hotspur on a season-longloan.[166] He came off the bench to score the winner in Tottenham's 2–1 home win overBrighton & Hove Albion on 1 November, his first goal since returning to the club.[167] On 3 December, Bale scored his 200th career goal in a 3–3 draw againstLASK in theEuropa League.[168] He scored a brace and got an assist in a 4–0 win overBurnley on 28 February 2021.[169] Bale once again scored twice in Tottenham's 4–1 victory againstCrystal Palace on 7 March, bringing his tally to six goals in six games.[170] On 2 May, Bale scored a hat-trick in a 4–0 win againstSheffield United. The hat-trick was only his second in the Premier League and his first since his return to Tottenham.[171] On 23 May 2021, Bale came off the bench to score two goals againstLeicester City in a 4–2 away victory which led Tottenham to a 7th-place finish, ensuring qualification to theEuropa Conference League.[172]
Bale returned to Real Madrid for the 2021–22 season.[173] His appearances during the season were severely limited.[174] Bale's agent, Jonathan Barnett, confirmed in May 2022 that Bale would leave Real Madrid at the end of the season.[175][176] On 1 June, Bale himself published an open letter onTwitter confirming his exit.[177]
Los Angeles and retirement
On 27 June 2022,Major League Soccer teamLos Angeles announced that they had signed Bale to a 12-month contract usingTargeted Allocation Money.[178] He made his debut on 17 July as a 72nd-minute substitute in a 2–1 win atNashville SC.[179] In his next appearance, on 23 July, he came on as a 65th-minute substitute againstSporting Kansas City, scoring his first goal for the club in a 2–0 victory.[180] Bale made 12 total appearances in the regular season for LAFC, starting two matches, but he remained mostly unused as the club won theSupporters' Shield.[181] He made his onlyplayoff appearance in thechampionship match as a substitute, where his header in the 128th minute tied the match at 3–3 and sent it to a penalty shootout. His goal was the latest goal in MLS history.[182] LAFC won the shootout and their first MLS Cup title.[183]
On 9 January 2023, following the2022 FIFA World Cup, Bale announced his retirement from professional football.[184]
International career
Wales
Bale playing for Wales in a qualifying match againstAustria in October 2016
Bale was selected byWales at the end of the 2005–06 season for a friendly againstTrinidad and Tobago on 27 May 2006.[185] In the match inGraz, Austria, he replacedDavid Vaughan after 55 minutes and assistedRobert Earnshaw's winning goal in a 2–1 victory.[186] At 16 years and 315 days old, Bale became the youngest player to play for Wales, breaking a record held byLewin Nyatanga who set that three months earlier; this record was itself superseded byHarry Wilson in October 2013.[187]
Wales youth guruBrian Flynn commented that Bale was potentially a future star of the game, comparing his technical ability to that ofRyan Giggs.[188] On 7 October 2006, Bale became the youngest ever goalscorer for the senior national team, scoring a free kick in aEuro 2008 qualification match againstSlovakia.[189] After a long injury lay-off, he returned and started in theWorld Cup qualifier againstFinland on 10 October 2009.[190] On 14 October, he played a part in Wales' final World Cup qualifier by setting up David Vaughan to score the opening goal againstLiechtenstein and won the free kick that led to the second,Aaron Ramsey's first at senior level.[191]
Bale withAshley Williams (left) at the July 2016 homecoming event in Cardiff. With thousands of supporters observing, Bale described the event as "very special" in a BBC interview.[195]
On 9 September 2014, Bale scored two goals, one with a header and another with a free kick, as Wales beatAndorra 2–1 in their first match of theUEFA Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.[196] In doing so, he became Wales' joint 10th all-time top-scorer with 14 goals, alongsideJohn Hartson.[197] Bale scored two goals on 28 March 2015, in a 3–0 win away inIsrael.[198] On 12 June, his 50th cap, he scored the only goal to defeatBelgium in a home qualifier, taking Wales above the Belgians to the top ofGroup B.[199] He headedJazz Richards' cross on 3 September in a 1–0 away win overCyprus, putting Wales three points away from qualification.[200] With qualification toUEFA Euro 2016 achieved (the country's first major finals since the1958 FIFA World Cup), on 13 October 2015, Bale scored his seventh goal of the qualifying campaign in Wales' final qualifier against Andorra at the Cardiff City Stadium.[201]
On 11 June, Bale scored the first goal in Wales' clash with Slovakia in their opening game of UEFA Euro 2016 from a free kick, helping his country secure a 2–1 win and, in the process, lead them to their first win in a tournament in 58 years.[202] His goal saw him become the first Welsh player to score at a major international tournament sinceTerry Medwin's goal againstHungary at the 1958 FIFA World Cup.[203] He then followed this up by scoring another opening free kick goal against England in the second group game, though Wales went on to lose the game 2–1; this made Bale the first player to score two free kicks at a European Championship sinceGermany'sThomas Häßler in 1992.[204] Bale scored his third goal of the tournament in a 3–0 win overRussia, making him their all-time top scorer in major tournaments, ahead ofIvor Allchurch who scored twice in the 1958 World Cup; he also helped to create the second goal of the match, which was scored byNeil Taylor.[205] In the last 16 againstNorthern Ireland at theParc des Princes, Bale sent in the cross from whichGareth McAuley scored anown goal to give the Welsh victory.[206] After defeatingBelgium in the quarter-final, Wales were eliminated following a 2–0 defeat to eventual championsPortugal in the semi-final.[207]
On 5 September 2016, Bale scored twice in a 4–0 win over Moldova in a2018 FIFA World Cup qualification game. This brought him to 24 international goals, surpassing both Ivor Allchurch andTrevor Ford, and behind onlyIan Rush's 28.[208] On 22 March 2018, with 29 goals, Bale became Wales' all-time top-scorer surpassing Ian Rush's 28, thanks to his first hat-trick in his international career in a2018 China Cup match againstChina.[209][210]
Euro 2020 campaign
In May 2021, he was selected as captain of the Wales squad for the delayedUEFA Euro 2020 tournament.[211] At the finals, he provided the assists for Aaron Ramsey andConnor Roberts's goals in Wales's second group match on 16 June, a 2–0 win overTurkey;[212] he helped his country qualify for the round of 16, in which they were beaten 4–0 byDenmark.[213]
World Cup 2022 campaign
Bale scores Wales's first World Cup goal since1958 from the penalty spot.
On 24 March 2022, Bale scored two goals in the2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying playoff semi-finals in a 2–1 win againstAustria which sent Wales to the playoff final.[214] In the playoff final againstUkraine on 5 June, delayed due toRussia's invasion of Ukraine earlier in the year, Bale's free-kick was deflected into the net by Ukraine captainAndriy Yarmolenko, giving Wales the lone goal in a 1–0 victory. Initially credited as anown goal for Yarmolenko, the decisive goal was subsequently awarded to Bale at the end of June.[215] Wales qualified for the World Cup for the first time since1958. Bale called it "the greatest result in history for Welsh football," and further that it "means everything. It's what dreams are made of."[216] Bale, as captain led the Welsh team in singing along to the unofficial anthem of the team, "Yma o Hyd," which was performed live byDafydd Iwan after the final whistle.[217][218] After the match,The Guardian opined on the occasion that "what can be said now is that nobody has ever achieved more in a Wales shirt."[219]
In November 2022, Bale was named in the Wales squad for the2022 FIFA World Cup inQatar.[220] In the team's openinggroup stage game against theUnited States, Bale was awarded a penalty kick after being fouled in the box with Wales 1–0 down and converted to equalise the game. This was the first goal scored by Wales in a World Cup since 1958, and earned Bale's side a draw.[221] This proved to be Wales's only point and goal of the tournament as they finished last in Group B and were eliminated in the first round.[222] Bale's final appearance as a professional footballer was Wales' final group game, a 3–0 loss toEngland.[223]
Great Britain
Bale, who met the age criteria to play in the2012 London Olympics, said in May 2011 "I want to play in the Olympics" for theGreat Britain Olympic football team, in defiance of the FAW.[224] On 28 October 2011, Bale became the first player to be photographed modelling the British 2012 London Olympics football supporters' shirt. In response, FAW chief executive Jonathan Ford said: "Our position remains unchanged. We are not for Team GB. Gareth can make his own choices and make his own decisions. But we are not going to stop anyone playing." On behalf of Bale, a spokesman said "while he is 100% Welsh, he is also British".[225]
At the end of June 2012, Bale pulled out of the tournament with a back injury. On 29 June, he advised the Team GB football manager,Stuart Pearce, that he would not be available for selection as he had aggravated an old back and hip injury during a training run. In view of the short recovery time between the end of the Olympics and the start of the Premier League season, Bale had decided to withdraw rather than exacerbate the problem.[226][227] Bale recovered from his injury in good time to be included on Spurs' pre-season tour of the United States, scoring againstLA Galaxy on 24 July[228][229] and againstNew York Red Bulls a week later.[230] Between these matches, Bale also played against Liverpool when he was injured in a tackle byCharlie Adam.[231]
Bale's appearances in Spurs' pre-season tour coincided withTeam GB's Olympic matches, where they drew withSenegal before victories over theUnited Arab Emirates andUruguay took them through to the knockout stages, where they lost toSouth Korea following a penalty shoot-out. Bale's withdrawal from theTeam GB squad attracted calls for sanctions against him[228] including a ban from the rest of Spurs' pre-season tour[232] but, in the absence of an official complaint by Team GB, these were not carried out. Spurs' manager,André Villas-Boas, defended the player insisting that Bale "had recovered quicker than expected".[233] The club's stance was supported byBritish Olympic Association chairmanLord Moynihan.[234]
Tottenham released a statement in relation to Bale's non-selection for Team GB, they stated that "Gareth sustained an injury as he built up his fitness ahead of joining up with Stuart Pearce's side.MRI scan reports were sent to the FA medical team on 29 June 2012. He was subsequently not selected on the basis of this injury and the inability to predict recovery time. This decision was not taken lightly and made only after consultation with Team GB's medical team, who were in agreement after seeing the medical reports."[235]
Player profile
Style of play
Bale (pictured in 2013) was best known for his pace, athleticism and bending strikes from distance (often using the "knuckleball" technique) in his prime.
At the beginning of his career, Bale played as aleft-back.[236] When Bale moved to Tottenham, his coach Harry Redknapp played him as aleft winger, where he developed into a world-class player.[237] He was predominantly known for his pace, acceleration, shooting and heading. His pace and acceleration allowed him to regularlyget past defenders and make runs into space, where he was able to score or create goals.[237][238][239][240] Bale was a free-kick specialist and used the "knuckleball" technique (popularised byJuninho Pernambucano).[241][242] In addition to his athletic and offensive capabilities, Bale was praised by the media for his defensive work-rate.[243]
As Bale developed into one of the most dangerous left wingers in the world, he was praised by managers, current players, and past players such asLuís Figo,[244]José Mourinho[245] andDani Alves.[246] Bale has been described as a footballer with "tremendous speed, greatcrossing ability, a great left foot and exceptional physical qualities".[247] Former Liverpool player andBBC Sport football punditMark Lawrenson said in 2011: "What makes Gareth Bale so special? Simple. He is one of the quickest players I've ever seen, but he has another gear and the ability to find that extra pace within the next stride. He has the ability to perform and use his technique at great pace."[248]
During the 2011–12 season, Harry Redknapp experimented with using Bale as anattacking midfielder.[236][249][250] The following season, André Villas-Boas frequently used Bale in this role.[251] After joining Real Madrid, Bale played as a right winger due to Cristiano Ronaldo playing on the left, which allowed him to cut into the centre and strike the ball with his stronger left foot;[252][253] he was also used as astriker[254][255] courtesy of his goalscoring, off-the-ball movement,[243][256] and physicality;[257][258][259] however, his playing time during his later seasons with Real Madrid was limited due to injuries.[239][260]
Reception
The Welsh public are so grateful to have a Gareth Bale that they don't put that pressure on him, they're just so happy we have a player of that quality that they build him up but not in a way to knock him down. Even if Gareth had the worst game of his life, scored a couple of own goals and got sent off, Welsh fans would never lambast him. They appreciate that we are fortunate, as a small country, to have a superstar.
Bale is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation and the greatest Welsh player of all time.[262][263][264][265][266][267] After aChampions League group stage match against Inter Milan on 2 November 2010, his teammateRafael van der Vaart said, "Everyone is scared of him (Bale).Maicon is one of the best defenders in the world, and he's killed him."[268][269]El Mundo praising Bale for his performance wrote, "Bale combines the height and build of an 800-metre runner likeSteve Ovett with the acceleration and directness of arugby winger likeBryan Habana. And, when he gets to the byline, he deliverscurling crosses like a Brazilian".[270]
According to hisWales teammates, Bale was a pivotal and influential figure for the squad. Welsh internationalNeil Taylor spoke about Bale's positive influence on the team's psyche and performance, "There's a belief about the team when he's in it. He makes everyone around him play better."[261]
In October 2012, Harry Redknapp mentioned him in the same class as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. He said: "He's an amazing, amazing talent and he's after the Ronaldos and Messis of this world and he's getting better and better. He's almost unplayable when he's on his game. He is a genuine world-class player. There's nobody he couldn't play for. He'd improve any team."[271]
Bale was accused ofdiving by some in the British media;[272][273] however, this was denied by Bale,[274] Harry Redknapp,[275] and Wales coachChris Coleman.[276] On 29 December 2012, Bale picked up his third yellow card for simulation in the2012–13 season.[277] During his Premier League tenure, he was booked eight times for simulation.[278] In 2016,The Guardian listed him as the seventh-best footballer in the world.[279]
During his time at Real Madrid, Bale was praised by the media for his amazing performances in important matches.[280] However, Bale became less popular with Madrid's fans during his final seasons with the club due to his lack of commitment.[281][282][283] Moreover, he was criticised for failing to live up to his potential due to his injuries.[284][285][286][287][288]
Outside football
Personal life
Bale lives inMadrid with his partner Emma Rhys-Jones, his high-school sweetheart.[289][290] Their first two children were born in Cardiff: one on 21 October 2012[291] and the other on 22 March 2016.[292] On 17 July 2016, Bale announced his engagement with Rhys-Jones.[293] On 9 March 2018, Bale announced that he and his fiancée were expecting their third child.[294] On 8 May 2018, the couple announced the birth of their third child.[295] They married in June 2019.[296]
Bale is not a fluentWelsh speaker, only knowing simple Welsh phrases.[303][304] While at Real Madrid, he was criticised by the Spanish media for allegedly not learning the Spanish language,[305][306] an accusation that his agent denied.[307]
Bale has partnerships with companies such asAdidas, EA Sports,Lucozade andBT Sport.[311] In 2014, Bale was the first player to wear the Adidas F50 crazylight football boots.[312] In 2015, he unveiled the Adidas X15 football boots.[313]
In November 2014, Bale appeared in FIFA's "11 againstEbola" campaign along with other football legends like Cristiano Ronaldo,Neymar,Xavi, andDidier Drogba.[316] Under the slogan "Together, we can beat Ebola", FIFA's campaign was done in conjunction with theConfederation of African Football and health experts, with the players holding up eleven messages to raise awareness of and combat the disease.[316]
In April 2020, he and his wife Emma donated £1 million to health boards in Wales and Spain to help in the fight against theCOVID-19 pandemic.[317] In October 2020, Bale gave £15,000 for Christmas hampers inSwansea, Wales.[318]
Golf
Bale is a keen golfer and in his back garden, he has a replica of the17th hole – the Island Green – atTPC at Sawgrass.[319] This hobby became controversial in his final seasons at Real Madrid, with the perception that Bale was more interested in golf than football.[320]El Confidencial cited golf as the reason why Bale spent so much time out injured, claiming it worsened his back problems.[319] Bale humorously played-up to this reputation, as after he qualified for the Euro 2020 tournament with Wales, he celebrated behind a Welsh flag with the slogan "Wales. Golf. Madrid. In that order" written on it.[320] Bale was interviewed in Episode 179 ofThe Erik Anders Lang Show podcast, in which he said hisgolf handicap was "between a three and a four".[321] Bale competed alongside American professional golferJoseph Bramlett in theFebruary 2023 edition of theAT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am inCalifornia.[322] The two of them placed joint-16th in the amateur section of the competition.[323] His handicap was 0.1 as of October 2025.[324]
Career statistics
Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
^Keh, Andrew (20 November 2022)."Gareth Bale and Wales Embrace the Games of a Lifetime".The New York Times. Retrieved15 January 2024.Bale does not speak Welsh, but it hardly mattered. Those words were etched in his mind long ago.
^Barton, Leon (9 January 2024)."How Gareth Bale changed Wales".Nation.Cymru. Retrieved15 January 2024.He might not speak Welsh but he fully embraced the connection between the language and the national football team
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