Gareth Bale has revealed that he made the decision to retire from football at the age of just 33 due to his father suddenly becoming sick - saying he 'realised there is more to life than just football'.
The Wales legend, who is his nation's most-capped player of all time and record goalscorer, stunned the footballing world when he announced that he would be hanging up his boots in January 2023.
His decision came in the immediate aftermath of Wales crashing out of the Qatar World Cup in 2022, after finishing rock bottom of a group which contained England, USA and Iran.