Gareth Bale names Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Isco as the best trainers he played with, leaving Cristiano Ronaldo off the list

Former Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale has sparked debate after leaving out Cristiano Ronaldo while naming the best trainers he played with during his career.

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Speaking in an interview quoted by GiveMeSport, Bale selected Luka Modrić, Toni Kroos and Isco as the most impressive players he witnessed in training sessions.

The former Wales national football team star explained that the trio stood out for their remarkable consistency and technical brilliance on the training ground.

“Modric or Kroos. They never lost the ball,” Bale said.

“They weren’t the flashiest in terms of scoring loads of goals. Isco was very good as well, actually. Isco was a great trainer. One of those three.”

Bale enjoyed a trophy-laden spell at Real Madrid, where he shared the pitch with Ronaldo and several other elite players.

Across his career, Bale also featured for Tottenham Hotspur, Southampton and Los Angeles FC, building a reputation as one of the most explosive wingers of his generation.

Despite Ronaldo’s prolific scoring record and legendary status, Bale’s comments highlight the quiet mastery of midfielders such as Modric and Kroos, whose composure and control often dominate training sessions.

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During their time together at Real Madrid, Bale and Ronaldo played 157 matches alongside each other and combined for 41 goal contributions.