Gareth Bale announces retirement from professional football

Gareth Bale has announced his retire­ment from pro­fes­sion­al foot­ball at the age of 33.

Bale made his final appear­ance at the 2022 Qatar World Cup in Wales’ final group stage match against England.

A game at LAFC in Major League Soc­cer was his last game for the club. He helped win the MLS Cup last season.

“After care­ful con­sid­er­a­tion, I am announc­ing my imme­di­ate retire­ment from club and inter­na­tion­al foot­ball,” Bale said in a state­ment on Monday.

“I con­sid­er myself very lucky to have been able to ful­fill my dream of play­ing the sport I love. It gave me the best moment of my life. The best moments of 17 sea­sons that can’t be done”