Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
MADRID — Gareth Bale bid farewell to Real Madrid and earned another honor — this time from Queen Elizabeth II. The five-time Champions League winner was named a Member of the Order of the British Empire, or MBE, in the Queen's Birthday Honors List. The announcement of the honor for services to football and charity coincides with celebrations of the 96-year-old monarch's Platinum Jubilee. It came with Bale on international duty with Wales ahead of a World Cup playoff final against Ukraine on Sunday. The 32-year-old Bale's contract expires with Madrid later this month.
