Happy Birthday Gareth Bale!

Gareth Bale, the world’s costliest football player, celebrates his 26th birthday today. The Welshman has been widely regarded as one of the best players on the planet. Bale is renowned for his explosive speed and his deadly free-kicks, and possesses a powerful left foot. He has scored some fantastic goals in his illustrious career, both for his clubs and his country.

Today, we look at the most significant moments of Bale’s career, and highlight some of his wonderful performances which made the headlines.

5) Against Sunderland, Premier League 2012-13

Bale scored a 25-yard screamer against Sunderland with his last kick for Tottenham Hotspurs in the final match of the 2012-13 season. Bale had already scored 20 goals in the premier league that season, but this goal was arguably his best for Spurs, and his last one too.

Spurs were sitting on fifth in the premier league, just a point behind Arsenal, who had travelled to Newcastle for their final league game. Spurs hosted Sunderland in their final match, who had already secured their place in 2013-14 premier league. The London side needed a win to have any kind of chance to qualify for the Champions League. And when Arsenal took the lead at Newcastle through Laurent Koscielny, the travelling fans’ chants of ‘One nil to the Arsenal’ were echoed around the White Hart Lane.

Spurs were unlucky as the referee turned their penalty appeals throughout the match, booking Bale for simulation too. The decision was not taken well by the player as well as the manager Andre Villas-Boas, as replays clearly showed that Bale was brought down by a Sunderland defender. Spurs dominated the whole match, but needed a moment of brilliance from their star man Bale to provide the goods.

Bale received the ball on the right side of the pitch in the 89th minute, and with explosive pace cut onto his left foot and fired home a 25-yard curling effort into the top corner. The goal ensured victory for Spurs, but it wasn’t enough for them to qualify for the Champions League, as Arsenal won 1-0 at Newcastle. The goal was the last one for Bale in the Spurs shirt, as he joined Real Madrid on a record transfer fee, reported to be around €100 million.

  4) Against Inter Milan, Champions League 2010-11

Bale’s performances against the then European Champions Inter Milan, both home and away, have been considered as one of the finest in his career. Spurs were playing in the Champions League for the first time in their history, and were pitted with defending champions Inter Milan in group stage in 2010-11.

In their first match against the Nerazzurri at San Siro, Spurs went down 4-0 inside 35 minutes, and were reduced to 10-men, after their goalkeeper Gomes was sent-off. But Tottenham bounced back strongly in the second half, with Bale scoring a superb individual goal early on. His second goal came exactly in the same manner as his first – a superb run on the left wing and then a low clinical finish to beat the Inter keeper. Bale scored his hat-trick in the 91st minute, setup by Aaron Lennon, who made a good run into the box and then passed it to Bale, who scored his third to keep the hopes of a comeback alive. Inter defended desperately and saw out Spurs 4-3 in the first of the two group stages matches.

Spurs chased most of the game at San Siro, but they were dominant at their home. Bale was the star again, as he comprehensively beat Maicon on numerous occasions on the left side, and provided two assists in a 3-1 victory at White Hart Lane.

Spanish newspaper El Mundo reportedly said, “Gareth Bale is easily the greatest sensation in the opening month and a half of the Champions League. Ask Maicon what he thinks after the two exhibitions Bale turned in against Inter. Yesterday he left Maicon for dead and then a wily old fox like Lucio was left in his wake like someone trying to follow the vapour trail of an aeroplane. Three goals and two assists — against the European champions. His performances have been stunning.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAcP1gxNQZw

3) Against Scotland, World Cup Qualifier 2012

Wales have found new heights since the introduction of Gareth Bale into their national squad. Bale has been superb for Wales, scoring 17 times for his country in 50 appearances, the latest being against Belgium, which took them to the top of their group table for the Euro 2016. Wales have risen to 10th in the latest FIFA rankings, their best ranking ever, and much of the credit has been rightfully given to Bale for this success.

From his 17 goals for Wales, the one against Scotland in a World Cup 2014 qualifying match is arguably his best. Wales didn’t have a good start to their qualifying campaign, as they lost their first two matches against Belgium and Serbia. And they were on the verge of losing their third against Scotland, after James Morrison gave them the lead in the 27th minute. The match entered the last 10 minutes, with Wales still trailing to Scotland by a goal. Wales needed a miracle to come back in the game, and yet again it was Gareth Bale who came to the rescue.

First, Bale won a penalty in the 81st minute and calmly converted it himself to level things up in Cardiff. Then with two minutes left to the 90, Bale was given space to run at the Scotland defence. And with nobody closing him down, Bale fired a shot from 25-yards into the top corner to give Wales the all important victory in their qualifying campaign.

2) Against Atletico Madrid, Champions League Final 2014

In his time at Spurs, Gareth Bale won many individual awards, including the Player of the Season award for 2012-13. But the Welshman was not able to get his hands on a single major trophy with the North-London side. As a result, he moved to Real Madrid in order to play in the Champions League, something that Spurs had failed to provide.

But who would have thought that Bale would score the winning goal in the final of the Champions League that will end Real Madrid’s 12-year long pursuit of La Decima, an unprecedented tenth title. This goal was not a long-range pile-driver, or a wonderful volley, but a mere tap-in. But this goal is considered as one of the most important ones Bale has scored in his career.

Real Madrid met their city rivals Atletico Madrid in the final of the Champions League, and were on the verge of a defeat, when Sergio Ramos headed home the equalizer in the 93rd minute of the match. After a 1-1 draw in regulation time, the match went into extra-time. And in the 110th minute, Bale came up with the big moment, as he headed the ball into an empty net, after Di Maria’s initial effort was saved by Courtois. That gave Real Madrid the lead for the first time in the match, and triggered an Atletico collapse, as the Rojiblancos conceded two more to lose 4-1 after extra time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92SCmtsi7p8

1) Against Barcelona, Copa del Rey final 2014

Bale’s cup winning goal against Barcelona is arguably the best goal that he has scored for Real Madrid. Gareth Bale was already having a wonderful first season with Real Madrid, but he saved his brilliant best for the main stage – the Copa del Rey final. The magnitude of the match was huge, as Real played against arch rivals Barcelona. Madrid were without their superstar winger Cristiano Ronaldo, who was sidelined because of a thigh injury.

Madrid started the match on a high, as Angel di Maria gave Madrid the early lead, scoring in the 11th minute. The match was completely dominated by Real, as they continuously searched for a second. But Barcelona somehow equalized with a superb header from young centre back Marc Bartra, who was playing his first ever Clasico.

Barcelona started to pressure more, pushing Madrid on the back-foot, as they searched for a winner. But in the 84th minute, Isco robbed possession inside his own penalty area, and passed the ball to Coentrao. Coentrao played the ball through to Bale, who made a superb run from outside the pitch, beating Bartra for pace, and then finished well to give Real Madrid a 2-1 victory in the final.

The most amazing thing about this incredible title winning goal was that Bale ran from inside his own half, and sprinted across the pitch so late in the match. He not only showed his physical strengths, stamina, pace and agility, but also had the calmness to slide the ball under Barcelona goalkeeper Jose Pinto’s legs to win it.

World famous Jamaican sprinter Usain bolt hailed the Welshman as the fastest footballer in the world. “It was a great goal,” Bolt told the Spanish newspaper Marca.” He showed his great speed when he swept past the defence and then kept his cool and slipped the ball under the keeper’s legs. It seems his past as an athlete helped him in this move. It’s a goal any sprinter in the world would like to score one day. He’s the fastest footballer in the world at the moment.”