Wales legend Gareth Bale has announced his retirement from club and international football at the age of 33.
The former Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid attacker most recently represented his country at the World Cup in Qatar, where he helped them qualify for the first time since 1958.
Bale’s 664th and final appearance of his illustrious career came in Wales’ final group game against England, when he was taken off at half time before Rob Page’s side were defeated 3-0 by their neighbours.
The forwards announced his decision on social media, thanking his former clubs, managers, and teammates, as well as his family.
“I announce my immediate retirement from club and international football after careful and thoughtful consideration,” Bale wrote in his retirement post.
— Gareth Bale (@GarethBale11) January 9, 2023
Bale also paid special tribute to his country Wales in a separate post, where he made 111 appearances and scored 41 goals, both of which are national records.
Bale is widely regarded as the greatest Welsh footballer of all time, surpassing John Charles, Ian Rush, and Ryan Giggs, and has helped his country qualify for three major tournaments, their first major tournaments as a nation since the 1958 World Cup.
The Cardiff-born forward had even more success at club level, most notably at Real Madrid, where he won 16 trophies, including five Champions League titles and three La Liga titles.
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Bale’s biggest achievement will undoubtedly be his performances for Wales, after inspiring his country to the Euro 2016 semi-finals on their first appearance in a major tournament in 58 years.
The Dragons have since established themselves as regulars on the international stage, qualifying for both Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Bale played 664 times for club and country, scoring 226 goals.
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