Bale began his career at Southampton before joining Tottenham in 2007. After converting from a left-back to left winger, he became arguably the most fearsome in his position in the Premier League.
Bale signed for Real Madrid in 2013 for a then reported world record fee of £85.3million. He enjoyed tremendous success during his time at the Bernabeu, playing his part in five Champions League-winning seasons.
However, after falling out of favour at Madrid, Bale departed the Spanish club in 2022 following their Champions League win over Liverpool.
During his career he has won numerous trophies including five Champions Leagues, three La Liga titles, a Copa Del Rey and the MLS Cup. He was also been named the PFA Players' Player of the Year twice.
He was the Wales international talisman for over 15 years, leading them to two European Championship tournaments and their first World Cup since 1958.
At the start of September 2013, Bale joined Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid on a six-year contract for a then world record fee of £85.3million.
During the 2013/14 season, Bale scored 15 goals and contributed 13 assists in 27 La Liga appearances. However, this impressive debut season was unable to deliver the La Liga title, as Real finished three points behind champions Atletico Madrid despite having scored 27 goals more.
The following season saw Real Madrid play second fiddle to Barcelona, who won the treble, but Bale managed to score 13 goals and provide nine assists in La Liga.
In 2017/18, Bale scored 16 goals in La Liga and picked up a brace and the man-of-the-match award in a 3-1 UEFA Champions League final over Liverpool.
In 2019, he was criticised for holding up a sign saying: 'Wales. Golf. Madrid. In That Order'. This, in the eyes of some, was a sign of a lack of commitment to his club.
Jose Mourinho, who didn't want to sign Bale during his time as Real Madrid manager, brought the Welshman back to Tottenham Hotspur on loan as the 2019/20 season kicked off.
However, the Welshman did scoop a fifth Champions League title in the 2021/22 season, with Madrid beating Liverpool 1-0 in the final, even though he did not play in the match.
Bale ended in nine-year spell in Madrid in summer 2022, joining Los Angeles FC in the MLS on a free transfer.
His breakthrough season came in 2009/10 as Spurs enjoyed a successful Premier League campaign, finishing in fourth place under Harry Redknapp.
In 2010/11, Bale starred in Tottenham's UEFA Champions League campaign. Inter Milan were European champions at the time, but Bale received plenty of attention for a dominant performance against the Nerazzurri and their star right-back, Maicon.
Spurs made the quarter-finals of the tournament, where they were beaten 5-0 on aggregate by Real Madrid.
After rejoining Tottenham on loan, Bale has played a bit-part role in the early stages of the 2020/21 season.
However, Bale had the desired impact in the final of the MLS Cup against Philadelphia Union when coming on as a sub again he headed home a 128th minute equaliser to take the game to penalties, which LAFC went on to win.
Bale has scored 41 goals for the Welsh national team, making him their record all-time goalscorer. He surpassed Ian Rush's record of 28 with a hat-trick against China on March 22, 2018.
Euro 2016 saw Wales embark on a remarkable run to the semi-finals of the tournament, where they were beaten 2-0 by eventual champions Portugal in France.
Bale played six matches for Wales at the tournament, scoring three times.
Wales joined Group B of the World Cup, alongside England, Iran and the United States.
Bale equalised eight minutes from the end, converting his 41st Wales goal from the penalty spot after Tim Ream went right through the back of him.
It was Wales' first goal at a World Cup since Terry Medwin scored against Hungary in 1958.
Teetotal Bale is married to Emma Rhys-Jones, who he shares four children with. Alba was born on October 21, 2012, Nava on March 22, 2016, Axel on May 8, 2018 and Xander on July 7, 2021.
Closer to home for him, Bale gave £15,000 for Christmas Hampers in Swansea, Wales, in October 2020.
Forbes listed Bale as the eighth highest paid soccer player in the world in 2020. His $23million salary is said to be supplemented by $6million in endorsements from the likes of Adidas, EA Sports and Lucozade.
When Real Madrid signed Bale in 2013, he reportedly surpassed the £80m paid for the signature of Cristiano Ronaldo. There were repeated rumours of friction between Ronaldo and Bale at Real Madrid.
In September 2021, Forbes announced that Bale will earn the ninth most money in world soccer. He earned $32million including a $26million contract from Real Madrid.
Former Real Madrid star Gareth Bale, a five-time UEFA Champions League winner, shared his thoughts ahead of Real Madrid's final against Borussia Dortmund.
Gareth Bale believes that by leading England to victory in Euro 2024, Jude Bellingham would be in a strong position to win the Ballon d'Or.
Harry Wilson admits the onus was on him to step out of Gareth Bale's shadow and keep Wales on track for major tournaments.
Former Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid winger will lend his celebrity to the UK and Ireland's bid Ireland to host Euro 2028 by joining the Welsh delegation in Geneva next month.
Wrexham owner Rob McElhenney is planning to play golf with Wales legend Gareth Bale - and will try to convince the former Real Madrid star to come out of retirement for 'one last magical season'.
Aaron Ramsey is revelling in the Wales captaincy, according to former team-mate Chris Gunter.
Gareth Bale will receive a farewell from Wales fans at the Euro 2024 qualifier against Latvia in Cardiff on Tuesday.
