Football: Wales star Bale draws the line

The Welshman, who scored 53 Premier League goals and 81 in La Liga, spent his career first in England for Southampton FC and then for Tottenham Hotspur for several years. In 2013 he moved to Spain to join record champions Real Madrid for the then record sum of 100 million euros, with whom he won countless titles, including the UEFA Champions League five times. After a brief comeback on loan at Tottenham, he moved to Los Angeles. However, as in previous seasons, his playing times were manageable

The Wales national team fired Bale in the first round of the World Cup play-offs in March with a brace to a 2-1 win over Austria and then a 1-0 win over Ukraine in June. In the finals in Qatar, however, the Welsh were in a group with England, the USA and Iran but then already in the preliminary round end of the line. The record Welsh international played his 111th and last appearance in team kit on November 29 in Qatar against England (0:3).

“By far the hardest decision of my career”

After that, he initially announced that he would continue to be available to the team. The decision to retire from the national team after all was “by far the hardest of my career,” he asserted. The feeling of putting on the Welsh jersey cannot be described in words. “My journey on the international stage has not only changed my life but also who I am,” wrote the Welsh record goalscorer of 41 times.

“The good fortune of being Welsh and being chosen to play for Wales and become captain” gave him something that could not be compared. “Thank you to each and every one of you for being with me on this journey,” Bale wrote. “I step down, but not away from the team that lives within me and flows through my veins. After all, the dragon on my shirt is all I need.”

„Thank you for everything“

Bale made his debut for Wales when he was 16. The Welsh FA said that Bale is not only the all-time cap and goalscorer for the national team, “he is also considered the greatest international player of all time for his achievements for club and country during his illustrious career”. The tweet read “Diolch am bopeth, Gareth Bale” in Welsh, which means “Thank you for everything Gareth Bale”.

“A Spurs legend and a legend of football. Congratulations on an incredible career,” Tottenham’s Heung Min Son, Bale’s former Spurs strike partner, wrote on Twitter. “I wish you the best of luck in your next chapter, my friend.” Current Spurs captain Harry Kane also took to social media to congratulate him on a great career, “it was a pleasure to have played together. All the best for what comes next!”

Real Madrid said: “Gareth Bale was part of our team at one of the most successful periods in our history and will forever stand for many of the most brilliant moments of the last decade.” Bale will always be linked to the history and legend of Real.