'There's more to life' – Ex-Real Madrid & Tottenham icon Gareth Bale reveals emotional reason he retired from football with 'people don't know what anyone's going through' message

Ex-Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur icon Gareth Bale has revealed the real reason why he announced his retirement from football at the age of 33. The former winger brought the curtains down on his illustrious professional career just months after Wales were knocked out of the 2022 World Cup group stage after finishing bottom with just a point from their three matches.

  • Bale took retirement at just 33

    Bale started his professional journey at Southampton in 2006 after graduating from the Saints' youth system. After an impressive debut campaign at St Mary's Stadium, the wide man caught Tottenham's attention and the north London club snapped him up. He spent the next six seasons at White Hart Lane, before completing a dream move to Real Madrid for a then world-record transfer fee.

    In Madrid, he won every major trophy on offer, including multiple La Liga and Champions League titles. In 2022, Bale joined MLS side LAFC where he spent a season before hanging up his boots in January 2023. His retirement announcement came in the aftermath of Wales crashing out of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in the group stage.

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    Why did Bale took an early retirement?

    In a chat with , Bale revealed how his father's ill health prompted him to quit football at just 33. He said: "I feel incredibly fortunate to have realised my dream of playing the sport I love. It has truly given me some of the best moments of my life. My dad got ill and that played a massive role in my decision. People don't know what anyone's going through at home but I soon realised there's more to life than just football. [My dad] sacrificed everything when I was younger. He took me everywhere. Without my dad and my parents, I wouldn't be where I am today."

    He added: "I achieved so much in my career so playing in a World Cup was pretty much the last thing that I wanted to achieve. It didn’t go amazingly well for us, but it was the first time in 64 years. After that, I didn't feel like I had anything else left to achieve, goal-wise."

  • Is Bale really obsessed with Golf?

    During his time in Madrid, Bale had once held aloft a now-infamous flag which read 'Wales. Golf. Madrid. In that order' after his nation qualified for Euro 2020. The incident did draw some criticism in Spain and since the former Wales international has been closely associated with the sport, with many believing that he is obsessed with golf.

    However, later in the interview, the Spurs icon cleared the air as he claimed he "never used to play golf that much" and would only pick up his clubs "once every two to three weeks" – and always "on a day off".

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    Did Bale have a fallout with Ronaldo

    Speaking about his relationship with former Madrid team-mate and Portugal icon Cristiano Ronaldo, the Welshman said: "I'm not really in touch with that many [old Madrid team-mates] – a few of the Wales boys – but I always got on with everybody. I never had any problems with anyone. I never had any big arguments. Sometimes the media might say about me and Ronaldo, we never had an issue, never had an argument, never had a fight, never had anything."

Estêvão entra, brilha e garante vitória do Palmeiras contra o Cuiabá

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O Palmeiras derrotou o Cuiabá por 2 a 0 neste domingo (5), na Arena Pantanal, em partida válida pela quinta rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro. Lázaro, nos acréscimos da primeira etapa, e Estêvão, que brilhou no segundo tempo do duelo, marcaram os gols do Verdão.

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Com o resultado, a equipe comandada por Abel Ferreira chegou aos oito pontos e saltou para a sexta colocação. O Dourado, por sua vez, segue pontuar na competição e ocupa a última posição na tabela de classificação.

SAIBA COMO FOI O JOGO:

✅ FICHA TÉCNICA
CUIABÁ 0 X 2 PALMEIRAS
BRASILEIRÃO – 5ª RODADA

🗓️ Data e horário: domingo, 5 de maio de 2024, às 18h30 (de Brasília)
📍 Local: Arena Pantanal, no Mato Grosso (MT)
📺 Onde assistir: Premiere
🟨 Árbitro: Bruno Arleu de Araújo
🚩 Assistentes: Thiago Henrique Neto Correa Farinha e Luiz Cláudio Regazone
🖥️ VAR: Charly Wendy Straub Deretti 

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⚽ ESCALAÇÕES

CUIABÁ (Técnico: Petit)
Walter; Gabriel, Marllon e Alan Empereur; Matheus Alexandre, Fernando Sobral, Denilson e Ramon; Lucas Fernandes, Derik Lacerda e Pitta.

PALMEIRAS (Técnico: Abel Ferreira)
Weverton; Marcos Rocha, Gómez e Murilo; Luis Guilherme, Menino, Aníbal Moreno e Piquerez; Lázaro, Endrick e Rony.

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فيديو | ماذا قدم محمد صلاح في مباراة ليفربول وآيندهوفن بـ دوري أبطال أوروبا؟

تعرض النجم المصري محمد صلاح لهزيمة جديدة مع ليفربول أمام آيندهوفن برباعية لهدف، في الجولة الخامسة بمرحلة الدوري لدوري أبطال أوروبا.

شارك محمد صلاح في أولى هجمات ليفربول في الدقيقة 13، قبل أن تخرج الكرة خارج مرمى آيندهوفن.

وفي الدقيقة 18 شارك صلاح في هجمة جديدة ولكن دفاع آيندهوفن نجح في افتكاك الكرة، وفي الدقيقة 20 سدد النجم المصري أول تسديدة بعيدة جداً عن شباك الفريق الهولندي.

وفي الدقيقة 24 وصلت الكرة إلى محمد صلاح ولكن جاءت عرضيته خاطئة، وفي الدقيقة 26 تصدى دفاع آيندهوفن للعبة متبادلة بين المصري ودومينيك سوبوسلاي قبل أن تشكل خطراً على دفاعاته.

وتدخل دفاع آيندهوفن في الدقيقة 27 ليبعد فرصة هدف محقق من أمام محمد صلاح بعد تمريرة رائعة من جاكبو، وكاد ليفربول أن يسجل ثاني أهدافه بأسيست من النجم المصري لكن رأسية فان دايك اصطدمت بالقائم.

اقرأ أيضاً.. ريان أبو الناي يسجل في فوز كاسح لـ باريس سان جيرمان أمام توتنهام في دوري أبطال أوروبا للشباب

وشارك محمد صلاح في هجمة جديدة لصالح ليفربول حيث مرر الكرة للمجري سوبوسلاي ولكن الحكم رفض احتساب خطأ من خارج منطقة الجزاء في الدقيقة 41.

وفي الدقيقة 43 دخل محمد صلاح منطقة جزاء آيندهوفن بعد مشاركته في إحدى الهجمات ولكن الكرة مرت بدون خطورة.وتصدى دفاع الفريق الضيف لتمريرة النجم المصري قبل إطلاق صافرة نهاية الشوط الأول.

وكان صلاح نشيطاً في بداية الشوط الثاني، وحاول صناعة خطورة على مرمى آيندهوفن لكنه لم تهدد أي كرة مرمى الفريق الهولندي في نهاية كل الهجمات.

وفي الدقيقة 63 قام صلاح بلعبة متبادلة مع سوبوسلاي قبل أن يمرر الكرة إلى فان دايك، وفي الدقيقة 70 تدخل دفاع آيندهوفن ليبعد كرة من أمام النجم المصري.

وفي الدقيقة 71 نفذ محمد صلاح ركلة ركنية ولكن رأسية فان دايك خرجت خارج المرمى، وفي الدقيقة 81 مرر النجم المصري لكن بدون خطورة، ومرت الدقائق حتى انتهت المباراة بفوز آيندهوفن برباعية لهدف.

خاص | الزمالك يوافق على رحيل لاعبه في يناير

كشف مصدر بـ نادي الزمالك عن موافقة القلعة البيضاء على رحيل أحد نجوم فريق الكرة البازرين خلال الفترة المقبلة.

ويعاني الزمالك من أزمات قوية في الفترة الماضية، بسبب عدم قدرته على دفع المستحقات المتأخرة لبعض لاعبيه ومدربيه السابقين، وحرمانه من القيد.

وعلم بطولات، أن هناك اتجاهًا في الزمالك للموافقة على رحيل حسام عبد المجيد خلال فترة الانتقالات الشتوية في يناير.

ويأتي حسام عبد المجيد، مدافع الفريق الشاب، ضمن أكثر الأسماء التي تحظى بمتابعة واسعة، خاصة بعد بروز اسمه مع الزمالك ومنتخب مصر الأول خلال الأشهر الماضية.

طالع | بشرى سارة لجماهير الزمالك قبل انتقالات يناير

ويأتي موقف إدارة الزمالك حال توفر عرض مادي قوي في ظل عدم وضوح موقف اللاعب بشأن تجديد عقده.

كما يرغب مسؤولو الزمالك في الاستفادة المادية من رحيل اللاعب الذي ينتهي عقده الموسم المقبل.

Shane Bieber to Return From Elbow Injury, Make Blue Jays Debut Friday

Two-time All-Star Shane Bieber is set to return to the mound this week.

Bieber, who has not played in over a year since undergoing Tommy John surgery for a torn UCL last April, will make his Blue Jays debut on Friday at Miami, manager John Schneider told reporters. Bieber has recently completed seven starts as part of his rehab assignment, posting a 1.89 ERA and 37 strikeouts across 29 innings.

Bieber was traded to Toronto in July at the deadline after previously spending his entire career with Cleveland, and will begin pitching for a Blue Jays' team that is second in wins and fourth in strikeouts, but just 23rd in ERA. He joins the rotation a little over a month before the end of the regular season, as the Blue Jays lead the American League East with a 73-52 record.

The 30-year-old pitcher has been one of the best starters in the league when healthy. In the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season, his best campaign, Bieber went 8-1 with a league-leading 1.63 ERA and 122 strikeouts and won the triple crown and Cy Young award. When he last saw significant playing time in 2023, he went 6-6 with a 3.80 ERA.

Guardians Closer Emmanuel Clase on Leave Amid Sports Betting Investigation

Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase has been put on non-disciplinary paid leave as part of Major League Baseball's sports betting investigation, according to a report from ESPN's Jeff Passan.

Clase joins fellow relief pitcher Luis Ortiz on leave. They're both tied to the same investigation.

The Guardians addressed the issue in a statement on Monday.

"The Guardians have been notified by Major League Baseball that as part of their sports betting investigation Emmanuel Clase has been placed on non-disciplinary paid leave per an agreement with the Players Association. We have been informed that no additional players or Club personnel are expected to be impacted. The Guardians are not permitted to comment further at this time, and will respect the league's confidential investigative process as we continue to fully cooperate."

Clase has recorded a 5–3 record with a 3.23 ERA in 48 games this season, with 24 saves.

Kyle Schwarber, Three Others Commit to Play for U.S. in World Baseball Classic

The year 2026 is a big one for the United States, which turns 250 on July 4—and Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber seems set to celebrate America's semiquincentennial in style.

Schwarber will play for the United States in the World Baseball Classic, USA Baseball announced Tuesday morning—shortly before news broke that he had re-upped with Philadelphia for five years and $150 million.

The 32-year-old also competed in the 2023 event, slashing .214/.450/.643 with two home runs and four RBIs for the American silver medalists. In 2025, Schwarber led the National League with 56 home runs—the second time in four years he's led the Senior Circuit in the category.

Joining Schwarber on the team are Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson, Dodgers catcher Will Smith (a '23 alum), and Brewers second baseman Brice Turang (an accomplished player on the United States's under-15 team).

The Americans are scheduled to open WBC play on March 6 against Brazil.

Red Sox to Call Up Top Pitching Prospect, Place Dustin May on Injured List

The Boston Red Sox are expected to place pitcher Dustin May on the 15-day injured list with an undisclosed injury, and No. 6 prospect Connelly Early is being called up from Triple A Worcester to make his major league debut on Tuesday against the Athletics, according to a report from Foul Territory.

The 23-year-old Early was selected by the Red Sox in the fifth-round of the 2023 MLB amateur draft out of the University of Virginia, and has flown through the minor league system.

Early began the 2025 season in Double A Portland, going 7-2 with a 2.51 ERA. He earned a promotion to Triple A Worcester and has continued his stellar season, posting a 3-1 record with a 2.83 ERA in 28.2 innings pitched.

The Red Sox enter Tuesday with an 80-65 record and sit in third-place in a hotly contested American League East. Boston is three games behind the first-place Toronto Blue Jays.

João Paulo brilha, e Santos supera Portuguesa nos pênaltis pelo Paulistão

MatériaMais Notícias

O Santos superou a Portuguesa por 4 a 2 nos pênaltis, após empate em 0 a 0 no tempo regulamentar, pelas quartas de final do Paulistão, na Vila Belmiro. Destaque da partida foi o goleiro João Paulo, que fez ótimas defesas durante o jogo e pegou uma das cobranças da Lusa na disputa de penalidades.

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O equilíbrio do confronto do início ao fim foi surpreendente, considerando os resultados das duas equipes até aqui no estadual. O Santos teve a segunda melhor campanha da fase de grupos, enquanto a Portuguesa foi a pior equipe dos oito classificados às quartas, com 15 pontos a menos do que o Peixe. Mesmo assim, o empate não saiu do placar e a decisão ficou para os pênaltis.

⚽ COMO FOI A PARTIDA?

O Santos iniciou o jogo tentando pressionar a saída de bola da Portuguesa, mas foi a Lusa quem criou as melhores chances no primeiro tempo. Os visitantes apostaram na bola aérea e levaram perigo, até que Quintana perdeu chance claríssima aos 21 minutos. Depois, o Peixe cresceu e conseguiu bons ataques, principalmente com Otero no lado direito.

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Na segunda etapa, o duelo seguiu equilibrado, com ótimas chances para os dois lados. Contudo, quem teve a oportunidade mais clara foi a Portuguesa, quando Henrique Dourado ficou cara a cara com João Paulo e parou em um milagre do goleiro santista. Pouco depois, Otero foi expulso após pisão em Giovanni Augusto e deixou o Peixe com um a menos por 20 minutos. Ao final, nada de gols e a vaga na semifinal foi decidida nos pênaltis, e o time da Vila Belmiro venceu por 4 a 2, com JP defendendo uma das cobranças.

✅ O QUE VEM POR AÍ?

Com a classificação, o Santos irá enfrentar o Red Bull Bragantino nas na semifinal do Paulistão, marcada o dia 27 de marços, quarta-feira, ainda sem horário definido. Palmeiras e Novorizontino fazem a outra partida das semis.

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Lorran retorna e Tite realiza primeiro treino 'completo' visando o jogo contra o Grêmio

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Lorran e Rayan Lucas se apresentaram no Ninho do Urubu, neste domingo (9), após passarem uma semana treinando na Granja Comary, com a Seleção Sub-20. O técnico Tite comandou a primeira atividade com todo o elenco que está à sua disposição para o confronto contra o Grêmio, pela oitava rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro.

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O Flamengo solicitou à CBF a desconvocação do meia Lorran, pois não gostaria de perder o jogador durante o período da preparação para o jogo contra a equipe de Renato Gaúcho, visto que o jovem jogador é o principal nome para substituir o uruguaio Arrascaeta. Tal atitude gerou um impasse com a entidade máxima do Futebol Brasileiro.

Outros clubes do Brasileirão, como Palmeiras e Corinthians, fizeram o mesmo em relação aos seus jogadores, respectivamente: Estêvão, Luis Guilherme e Vitor Reis (Palmeiras), Wesley e Breno Bidon (Corinthians). Com isso, a CBF acatou o pedido dos clubes e antecipou o fim do treinamento neste período de Data Fifa.

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Além da dupla, o técnico Ramon Menezes também convocou uma trinca da base rubro-negra: o lateral direito Lucyan, de 17 anos, o zagueiro Iago, de 19 anos, e o atacante Wallace Yan, de 19 anos.

Desfalques

Tirando os convocados (Erick Pulgar, Varela, De La Cruz, Viña e Arrascaeta), o Flamengo tem o lateral esquerdo Ayrton Lucas voltando de lesão, por conta de uma lesão no músculo posterior da coxa esquerda, e o volante Alan com a mesma lesão, mas na coxa direita. No entanto, o lateral faz fisioterapia e vive a expectativa de retornar no jogo contra o Grêmio. Enquanto o volante continua em processo final de recuperação na academia, sem trabalhos com bola.

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Flamengo e Grêmio se enfrentam na quinta, às 20h (de Brasília), no Maracanã, pela oitava rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro.

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