Gareth Bale has filed an application with the Intellectual Property Office to trademark a logo featuring the heart-shaped hand gesture that he does after scoring goals. It's an odd moving considering the fact that Bale was far from the first player to do it, but to distinguish his trademark request from any others who might have the same idea, he included his No. 11 in the center of the heart-shaped space between the two hands.

Here's the application and the proposed logo...

From this, we can see that Bale has his eyes on some potential merchandising opportunities, including jewelry, leather goods and clothing (the parasols, whips and saddlery options sound especially interesting). Though it remains to be seen how many people would want to own products featuring such a overdone hand gesture, it seems Bale is taking cues from Leo Messi, who unveiled his far superior logo in 2011.

Forget PFA awards and transfer rumors involving Real Madrid and Manchester United, you know a footballer has truly made it in the modern age when he has his own legally binding trademark.

Source: <http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/soccer-dirty-tackle/gareth-bale-trying-trademark-goal-celebration-logo-192558005.html>

What is Messi's logo?

I have no idea. I was confused by that too.

EDIT: Found it. <http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/blog/dirty-tackle/post/leo-messi-unveils-new-superhero-logo?urn=sow-wp6392>

First they're trying to patent genes as intellectual property, now hand gestures. Everyone wants to claim something to their name. I don't even see the originality in this, given how sad it is that Justin Bieber came up with it first.

btw. that logo looks really retarded. Seems like he got nothing to do with his money.

What happens if he changes to No. 7 and Spurs get a new No.11... can they do it then? xD

Honestly I don't see the point of that!

Di Maria: (Surfing the web, sees the news) Whatha? (Reads news more closely) da fuq!

@SoccerBoss

Wow! You're right! Angel di Maria actually deserves that logo more than Bale, as he does that celebration after every goal, and has been doing so for many years. He also wears the No. 11 jersey for Argentina. :P

But he's not as attractive. ;)

@Lodatz

LOL true. di Maria looks like a noodle. ;)

how TACKY. bringing your celebration--something genuine and great--to a crass commercial level. just lost some big respect for him.

I Agreee... Di Maria should have it!

I wanna go upside bale's head every time he does this celebration, now I'm gonna have to see it on apparel and whatnot?

@Lodatz, your saying that just because Bale looks cooler than Di Maria means that he deserves to have this "official" Bale sign. I think that football is more about how you play on the field rather than how you look, I mean have you ever seen Di Maria diving? Maybe you have but I think that Bale has dove way more that Di Maria will ever therefore I mean that this "heart" sign should just stay official and not be assinged to one player who thinks he's the only one who does that sign.

I was joking. :p

I mean, with Bale being the Monkey King, and all...