Real Madrid legend Gareth Bale received a signed jersey from Steph Curry, but did another superstar get blanked?
Having ended his football career in Los Angeles with LAFC, Bale clearly has plenty of time for the city and was present as the Lakers lost to the Golden State Warriors.
The Welshman was courtside and managed to catch NBA legend Curry’s attention after the game.
The Warriors talisman linked up with Bale and even signed him a jersey before posing for pictures with the former Real Madrid star.
A clip of the moment has since gone viral on social media but eagle-eyed fans caught another former footballing maestro.
Just a row behind Bale was another LAFC retiree in Giorgio Chiellini, who applauded as Curry made his way over.
One fan saw the Italian and wrote: “Giorgio Chiellini in the back!”
Another wrote: “Chiellini in the back lol.”
And this fan said: “Chiellini applauding them is really goated.”
However, the clip shared by the Golden State Warriors fails to delve into whether or not Chiellini received a signed jersey either.
Bale and Chiellini shared a dressing room at LAFC during 2022/23 but not for long as both players retired at the end of the season.
Both have been considered one of the best players in their position over their career with Bale winning five Champions League titles with Real Madrid.
At Tottenham, the former Wales international left defenders in the dust with his incredible pace and power, taking him two PFA Players’ Player of the Year awards in 2011 and 2013 and one PFA Young Player of the Year award in 2013.
Chiellini, on the other hand, is renowned as one of the last gladiatoral defenders of a golden generation of Italians including Alessandro Nesta, Paolo Maldini and Leonardo Bonucci.
He formed the cornerstone for Juventus’ domination of Serie A, where he made 561 appearances over 17 years, winning nine Scudettos along the way.
Bale and Chiellini did meet before joining up at LAFC, facing each other in the 2017 Champions League final where Real Madrid beat Juventus 4-1 in Bale’s hometown Cardiff with the match becoming synonymous with Cristiano Ronaldo’s double at the Millenium Stadium.
Curry, meanwhile, is arguably one of NBA’s best ever players and helped the Warriors to victory over the Lebron James’ Lakers in Los Angeles on Tuesday night.
The 36-year-old is a four-time NBA champion and was regarded as NBA MVP in 2015 and 2016 while against the Lakers he scored 23 points including seven rebounds and eight assists.