Welsh star forward Gareth Bale is retiring from professional soccer at the age of 33. Bale, who spent the past six months playing for MLS side LAFC, announced his decision via social media.
“I feel incredibly fortunate to have realized my dream of playing the sport I love. It has truly given me some of the best moments of my life,” he said is a statement posted on Twitter. “The highest of highs over 17 seasons, that will be impossible to replicate, no matter what the next chapter has in store for me.”
Bale also posted a separate statement in which he detailed his decision to walk away from the Welsh national team, describing it as “far the hardest of my career.”
Gareth Bale started his professional career with Southampton, where he established himself as one of the most exciting left-backs of his generation. He made a transfer to Tottenham Hotspur in 2007, where he reinvented himself as a winger and gained recognition as one of the best players in the world. This earned him a world-record €100.8 million transfer to La Liga side Real Madrid.
While in Spain, Bale helped Real win three La Liga titles and five UEFA Champions League trophies, among other achievements. His stint with the club turned bitter at the end, prompting him to leave as a free agent at the end of the 2021–22 season. Bale went on to sign with the LAFC, making an immediate impact and helping the franchise to win its first MLS Cup.
