Gareth Bale has disclosed that he competed throughout his entire professional football career whilst suffering from a torn disc in his back, an injury sustained when he was just 18 years old at Tottenham.
The Welsh star, now 36, chose to conceal the condition during his playing days to avoid criticism.
"I tore my disc in my back when I was 18 at Tottenham. I played my whole career with that," Bale revealed on the Stick to Football podcast.
"I never came out and said this when I was playing because some people would say 'he's making excuses'."
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The five-time Champions League winner retired at 33 following the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with the persistent injury ultimately contributing to his decision to step away from the sport.
The back condition was the root cause of the numerous calf injuries that plagued Bale throughout his career, though he described it as "manageable" initially before it eventually caught up with him.
Real Madrid, who signed him in a then-world record transfer in 2013, were fully informed about his condition.
Gareth Bale pictured playing for Tottenham in the twilight years of his career
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Bale went to extraordinary lengths to protect himself, even standing on his heels whilst brushing his teeth to minimise the risk of triggering a calf problem.
"I never knew when it would come," he explained.
"Obviously people were like, 'oh, he doesn't look after himself' [but] I would literally make sure my calves and soleus were bulletproof.
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Gareth Bale won five Champions League titles at Real Madrid
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"But again, if it misfires and it goes, there's nothing I could do about it. I'd have an injection in my back to calm it all down."
Despite the physical challenges, Bale established himself as arguably Wales' finest ever footballer, setting national records for both appearances and goals.
He made his international debut aged just 16 and went on to accumulate 111 caps and 41 goals for his country.
His performances proved instrumental as Wales reached the Euro 2016 semi-finals, while he also guided them to the last 16 at Euro 2020.
Perhaps his most significant contribution came when he scored the crucial goal against Ukraine that secured Wales' place at the 2022 World Cup, their first appearance at the tournament in 64 years.
At club level, Bale claimed five Champions League titles with Real Madrid, cementing his status as one of Britain's most decorated players.
Gareth Bale retired after a short stint in Los Angeles
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Bale acknowledged that he had reached a point where he questioned his motivation to continue, feeling he had accomplished everything he set out to achieve.
"The last thing I did was qualify for a World Cup, which was the one thing that was last on my list," he said.
He admitted he had probably been ready to retire a few years earlier, with a family illness also influencing his decision to announce his retirement in January 2023.
Since stepping away, Bale has expressed interest in club ownership rather than coaching, having been part of a consortium that explored purchasing Cardiff City last summer, though the bid did not progress.