Posted 11/15/2020 7:00 PM / Updated 11/15/2022 11:06 PM
(Credit: AFP)
The Brazilian national team only had one World Champion star embroidered on its uniform the last time Wales played in a World Cup. The distant 1958 edition was the nation’s only memory of the United Kingdom’s premier football tournament. However, this story has been rewritten by the talent of Gareth Frank Bale, the protagonist of restoring pride for the Welsh people.
Born on July 16, 1989 in Cardiff, the capital of Wales, Bale has achieved a feat that not even one of the most talked about generations of national football has ever achieved. In the 90s, the choice in his favor was the talent of forwards Mark Hughes, Ian Rush, Ryan Giggs and goalkeeper Neville Southall. However, the optimism and leadership role of the quartet was not enough to plant the flag among the other teams at the World Cup finals.
Gareth Bale has succeeded exactly where Giggs and his company have failed. The 1-0 win over Ukraine was less valuable. The striker’s goal saved the Welsh pride after 64 years out of the spotlight. If his technical quality had already established the number 11 as a darling of Welsh fans, now, he is being treated as a true national hero.
Six years ago, under the leadership of the same Bale, he stunned Wales and reached the Euro 2016 decision, in France. In the quarter-finals, the team beat favorites Belgium, but fell to Portugal in the last step before fighting for the trophy that the Portuguese would lift.
Today, Bale is an essential part of the Los Angeles Soccer Club. The forward was one of the standout moments in Major League Soccer’s (MLS) unprecedented campaign against the Philadelphia Union. He came off the bench in the second half to tie the game and take an extra time decision and a penalty shootout.
Despite the ups and downs, Bale arrived in Qatar with the tag of a star of the tournament. five UEFA Champions League titles (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2022), four FIFA Club World Cups (2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018) and three Spanish Championship titles (2017, 2020 and 2022). On the shelves are other big names and former teammates, such as Croatian Luka Modric and Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo.
Curiosity about Bill
Brazil lovers
Gareth Bale is another big fan of the Brazilian national team. Surrounded by Brazilians wherever he plays, he has always shown affection for Amarlinha.
very shy
Unlike many footballers, Bale is more reserved and avoids the limelight. The companions revealed that he tried to compensate for his shyness by performing well.
most valuable
Bale arrived at Real Madrid in the 2013/2014 season as the most expensive transfer in history. The Merengue club spent 101 million euros to get him out of Tottenham.
businessman
After Wales qualified for the Cup, Bell launched a beer brand bearing his name and pledged to funnel the profits into developing football in the country.
Attentive to social issues
On the eve of the opening of the World Cup, the Welsh star commented on social problems and human rights in Qatar. “We can shed light on the ongoing problems,” he told the BBC.
