Welsh striker Gareth Bale has announced his retirement from professional football..

The 33-year-old football player announced this on his Instagram, where he addressed the fans.

" I am lucky to have fulfilled my dream of playing the sport I love.. It really gave me some of the best moments of my life.. Highest peaks in 17 seasons that will be impossible to replicate no matter what the next section has in store for me.

From my first contact at Southampton to my last at LA and everything in between has shaped a club career that I am very proud of and grateful for.. Playing for my country and being the captain was really a dream.

It seems impossible to express my gratitude to all those who have played a part in this journey.. I feel indebted to so many people for helping to change my life and shape my career in a way I couldn't even dream of when I started working on it at age 9,"

Gareth Bale: career and achievements Bale began his football career in the English " Already in 2007, Gareth moved to Tottenham, where he became a football star..

In 2013, Bale joined Real Madrid from Tottenham Hotspur for a then-record fee of €101m.. Since then, Gareth has made 258 appearances for the Creamy, scoring 106 goals and providing 67 assists..

Together with Real Madrid, the Welshman won La Liga, the Spanish Super Cup and the UEFA Super Cup three times, won the Spanish Cup once, won the Champions League five times, and also triumphed at the Club World Cup four times..

In early June this year, Bale left the " The striker continued his career in the American MLS League, joining Los Angeles..

Already in his first season overseas, the star football player helped Los Angeles win the first ever championship..

Gareth has been playing for the national team since 2006.. In total, he has 40 goals in 111 matches for Wales..

It was Bale who, as part of the Welsh national team, defeated Ukraine in the playoff final for reaching the 2022 World Cup. At the World Cup in Qatar, the Welsh with their star captain could not leave the group, where England, the USA and Iran also played.