Gareth Bale summed up his relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo in one line. Asked at the BMW International Open Pro-Am about life with the Portuguese at Real Madrid, Bale said his former teammate was more human than the caricature.
“He was actually okay. He had his moments. But he was a nice guy, nothing wrong, we didn’t really have any problems.”
“If we win 5-0 and he didn’t score, he comes in and throws his boots like he’s angry. It’s like your team winning in the Ryder Cup but you didn’t get a point so you are angry.”
“Never had anything”
That was 2023. The frame around the Bale-Ronaldo pairing at Real Madrid was five seasons of shared silverware and steady speculation that the dressing room did not really work. Bale has pushed back on that story more than once.
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In a GQ interview republished by World Soccer Talk, the Welshman was direct.
“I never had any problems with anyone. I never had any big arguments. Sometimes the media might say about me and (Cristiano) Ronaldo, we never had an issue, never had an argument, never had a fight, never had anything.”
On The Overlap, Bale returned to Ronaldo’s mentality.
“Whether in training or matches, all he wanted to do was score goals. If you didn’t pass him the ball, you noticed it.”
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Ronaldo, after Euro 2016
Portugal beat Wales 2-0 in the Euro 2016 semi-final, ending the Welsh run at the tournament. In the aftermath Ronaldo found his club colleague, and later told reporters part of what was said.
“I congratulated them on their run. They had an amazing run. They were the shining star here, the revelation team. I wished them good luck and as for the rest I would rather not say.”
Bale’s Ronaldo, years on
Bale retired from professional football in January 2023, announcing his immediate retirement from club and international duty at 33.
Asked by The Mirror who he considered the complete footballer, the Welshman went straight back to his former teammate.
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“I would say Cristiano Ronaldo. He brings the complete package. He is strong, powerful, fast, can head the ball, and strike it well.”
A Lisbon exit still left open
Ronaldo, who turns 42 in February, has not actually said he is done with Portugal.
Asked ahead of tonight’s Nations League opener whether this could be it, he told reporters: “I will finish when I feel like I’m not doing anything here.”
He also conceded he had thought about walking away after the 2026 World Cup.
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“Yes I did. Of course, I’m always thinking on my decisions, my future, the present also.”
Reports out of Portugal and beyond have nonetheless flagged the Wales fixture as a possible farewell, with the venue, Sporting’s Estádio José Alvalade, carrying obvious symbolism for a player who came through the club’s academy.
Wales kick off against Portugal at 7:45pm local time in Lisbon on Thursday, in the opening Group 4 game of the 2026-27 Nations League A.
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