Gareth Bale will make his return to football in a charity match this weekend, it has been announced.
The former Tottenham and Real Madrid star officially retired in January 2023, shortly after captaining Wales at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Bale opted to hang up his boots following the tournament and a brief spell at Los Angeles FC in MLS.
The former winger, now 36, is now set to return to the pitch in a star-studded charity match in South Korea.
Bale will play FC Spear against Shield United in a match held at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on Saturday.
The match is designed as an attack against defence contest.
FC Spear include some of the games legendary attacking talents, with Bale joined by the likes of Ronaldinho, Kaka, Wayne Rooney and Eden Hazard.
Didier Drogba, Steven Gerrard and Franck Ribery also feature in their squad, alongside goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, with the team set to be managed by Arsene Wenger.
Shield United will be focused on defence with Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Ashley Cole, Carles Puyol and Alessandro Nesta among their squad.
Rafa Benitez will serve as the head coach of the team.
Defence overcame attack in last year’s event, with Shield United earning a 4-1 victory.
Bale’s participation in the match comes as his involvement in football steps up again in retirement.
The Tottenham icon was confirmed to be joining TNT Sports punditry line-up as a replacement for Rio Ferdinand, who departed his role at the end of last season.
Bale was also linked with a possible takeover of Cardiff City during the summer.
During his career, Bale won the Champions League five times and LaLiga on three occasions with Real Madrid.
He was also named PFA Player of the Year on two occasions while at Tottenham, while he won the MLS Cup and Supporters Shield during his short spell at Los Angeles FC.
Bale led Wales at their first World Cup in 64 years in 2022 and is the nation’s record appearance maker and goalscorer with 41 goals in 111 games.
