1 GARETH BALE
FORWARD CAPS 108 2006-PRESENT DAY GOALS 40
ANYONE eclipsing John Charles has to be good. Damn good.
Step forward Gareth Bale.
He has been incredible and can cement his legacy even further by helping Wales to shine out in Qatar.
At the age of 16 years and 315 days, Bale became the youngest player to appear for Wales and straight away you knew there was a megastar in the making.
He was one of a clutch of young players brought through by John Toshack, who said he had to stand on the side of the pitch telling them where to go and what needed to be done against battle-hardened pros in international football.
“Not with Gareth though. Before I could say anything, he’d already gone into the position and done it,” says Tosh.
Bale ended decades of Wales hurt by firing the team to Euro 2016. No footballer in Europe had as big an influence upon any country in terms of goals and assists. Wales were never a one-man side, but Bale always made the difference.
Like the rest, he went on to shine out in France as Wales marched to the semi-finals.
Although not the force of old, he then fired Wales into the World Cup for the first time in 64 years with two cracking goals in the play-off semi against Austria, before providing the moment that also saw Ukraine downed in the final.
Power, pace, panache, heading ability, wonder goals, in his pomp Bale had everything in his locker. But he was the first one putting in the hard yards for Wales too, leading by example with a work ethic and sheer will to win. If Gareth Bale can do it, so can we, was the view of his team-mates.
His record-breaking move to Real Madrid may have ended under a cloud as the Spanish fans turned on Bale, but just look at what he helped them to achieve – five Champions Leagues, with Bale playing a key goalscoring role in finals, three La Liga titles, a Spanish Cup.
Oh, he also donated £1million to Cardiff and Madrid hospitals during the pandemic. Just when Welsh folk thought they couldn’t love the man any more!
This is one heck of a stellar list, we’re sure you will agree. That Bale tops it says everything about his talent.*