- 17 hours ago
Bale cements big game legacy to rescue Wales in World Cup debut
Suraj Radia
- 21 Nov 2022 21:26 GMT
- 2 min read
Gareth Bale’s late penalty rescued a point for Wales in their first World Cup game in more than 60 years to cement his legacy as a player who will always deliver on the biggest stage.
Wales went a goal down in the first half against the United States through Timothy Weah but responded in the second period to grab a deserved draw in their Group B opener.
Bale’s reputation has perhaps declined in recent years due to his injury issues, which prompted him to join Los Angeles FC in the summer after his contract at Real Madrid expired.
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The 33-year-old has played just 53 league games since the start of the 2019/20 season but, while he may not be the same player that commanded a world-record transfer fee, he is still capable of providing in the pivotal moments.
Bale’s last goal was a 128th minute strike in extra time of the MLS Cup to the game to penalties, which LAFC won to secure their first ever title.
For a man that has scored in Champions League finals and won trophies for multiple sides, scoring for his country in the World Cup may be one of Bale’s biggest and best moments yet.
Bale adds to his iconic moments catalogue
Bale won the penalty himself before netting his 41st goal for his country, with three of those coming in Wales’ Euro 2016 campaign at their first major tournament since the 1958 World Cup.
Bale may struggle to feature and perform consistently every week for his sides but every team he is on knows that they are in the capable hands of a man who thrives under pressure.
During his later years at Real Madrid, Bale found appearances hard to come by, particularly in high-intensity games but he was always trusted to provide a big moment when they needed him most.
Perhaps the most iconic moment in his career was coming off the bench to score twice during the Champions League final against Liverpool in 2018, including an incredible overhead kick to put Real in front.
The Welsh captain has proven on the global stage that class is permanent and he will go down in folklore, not for his injuries, but for always being one of the greatest big-game players in footballing history.
