Welsh legend Gareth Bale gave an interview, discussing topics related to his previous career.
Do you think avoiding media interactions affected your chances of winning individual honors like the Ballon d’Or?
“You know, the Ballon d’Or is far more than just on-field performance – it also involves player image, and the media definitely has their preferred candidates. It’s no longer just a football competition.
I wish things could be purer, but that’s not the reality – no one can deny that.”
In 2016, you led Wales to the Euro semi-finals and helped Real Madrid beat Atletico Madrid to win the Champions League. That year, you achieved your highest Ballon d’Or ranking of sixth.
“Really? I didn’t even know that. I thought I ranked higher in some other years.
I know my performance back then was world-class, and I don’t need others to confirm my ability.
I’ve never cared about individual awards. Since I was a kid, I’ve never spent a second dreaming of winning the Ballon d’Or.”
Do you still keep in touch with your former teammates?
“Not much. I only stay in contact with a few former Wales teammates, but I always got along well with everyone – never had any conflicts or disputes with anyone.
Sometimes the media makes up rumors about me and Ronaldo not getting along, but we never had any issues. No arguments, no falling-outs, no conflicts at all.”
Do you regret not joining Man Utd and going to Spain instead?
“I’ve been asked this many times. I’m happy with my choice. If I hadn’t gone to Real Madrid, I probably wouldn’t have achieved what I have today.”
One thing that’s absolutely “iconic” about you is your man bun hairstyle.
(Laughs) “That man bun is so classic! I also became famous because of that look. The fact that you specifically mentioned it shows it really became my signature.
My wife used to cut my hair. I just wanted to try growing long hair back then, and later she started shaving the sides – the style stuck, and I never really cared much about it myself.”
Can we talk about that “Wales, Golf, Madrid” banner?
“That slogan is the thing I feel most wronged about. First of all, no one knows how often I actually play golf.
If you had to guess now, you might think I play three or four times a week, right?
I actually play once every two or three weeks, and only on rest days. I’ve never played for eight hours straight – I’ve always been professional about football.
But people outside don’t know that; they just label me based on that slogan.”
Do you remember the Wales vs Hungary game in November 2019 – the incident with that banner, which later angered the Spanish media?
“We had just qualified for the Euros, and I was definitely thrilled. The whole team was celebrating when someone suddenly held that banner with the slogan in front of me.
What would you have done? I couldn’t have thrown my country’s flag on the ground – that would have been the worst thing to do.
And I didn’t even touch the banner, which is important to me. I was just celebrating with my teammates; I didn’t actively ask to hold it. But you all know what happened next.”
The situation really escalated afterward.
“I was torn apart by the Spanish media. I felt so wronged – it all stemmed from misinformation.
Obviously, I would never value golf more than my country or club, and I never did anything wrong professionally.
Looking back now, I can only say it’s in the past. I can’t change it, so I either laugh it off or feel sad – I chose the former.”
Did you cry because of it?
“No. If someone is against me, I just smile and play – that’s my way of relieving stress.
Whether I play with anger or smile and enjoy the game, I can still perform well. I don’t want to show any weakness or frustration.”
Were you surprised you could still perform well under that kind of media pressure?
“I still remember that game. I came on as a substitute in the last 30 minutes against Real Sociedad at the Bernabéu, and the whole stadium was booing me. But by the end of the game, I got applause because I played really well. On my way home, my agent called me and said I was crazy.
No one could perform like that under that kind of pressure – they said I was extraordinary. I just thought, luckily I have a strong mentality; not everyone could handle it.”
Where do you think this strong mentality comes from?
“From my dad – he’s a very tough man. My parents taught me to stay grounded and not be superficial since I was a kid.
When I was young, they sacrificed a lot to support me playing football – constantly traveling and giving up their weekends.
It wasn’t until I became a father myself, watching my son play, that I truly understood how hard it was for them.
But my dad always said, it’s okay if you play badly, and there’s no need to be proud if you play well – but if you don’t give your all on the pitch, that’s absolutely unacceptable.
Now I tell my seven-year-old son the same thing. My only requirement for him is to try his best.
This is a lesson that will last a lifetime – you can’t give up easily when things don’t go your way.”
Even when you’re being criticized by thousands of people?
“I’ve always thought that if the media only reported based on facts, things would be very different.
But some people only care about writing eye-catching content, and readers naturally believe it. The media should have a sense of responsibility and only spread the truth.”
If Wales qualifies for the World Cup next year, you’ll be younger than stars like Ronaldo and Messi who are still playing. Have you thought about how you’ll feel then?
“If you had asked me this a year ago, I would have felt uncomfortable. But now I’ve let it go and I’m content. A few days ago, I played a casual game of football and clearly felt I couldn’t keep up with professional matches anymore. So my decision to retire was definitely the right one.”
