sport news Gareth Bale's top 10 goals EVER after the Welsh wizard announces his retirement trends now

sport news Gareth Bale's top 10 goals EVER after the Welsh wizard announces his retirement trends now
sport news Gareth Bale's top 10 goals EVER after the Welsh wizard announces his retirement trends now

sport news Gareth Bale's top 10 goals EVER after the Welsh wizard announces his retirement trends now

Wonder goals. Golf. Madrid. In that order. 

After Gareth Bale suddenly announced his immediate retirement from football on Monday at the age of 33, thoughts inevitably turn to the magic moments the Welsh wizard provided during his storied and stellar career. 

At his peak, the winger was absolutely unplayable, probably the third best player in the world behind Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, and probably second - behind only Messi - in his capacity to create gorgeous goals out of nothing.

From his unique off-the-pitch scorching past Barcelona's Marc Bartra, to a sublime overhead kick in the Champions League final, fans got used to seeing Bale's trademark love-heart celebration and beaming grin after stunning strikes.

So below, Sportsmail's Max Mathews attempts to narrow down the long list of contenders and go through the top 10 Gareth Bale goals of all time.

Welsh wizard Gareth Bale announced his immediate retirement from football on Monday night

Welsh wizard Gareth Bale announced his immediate retirement from football on Monday night

Thoughts of fans will now inevitably turn to the moments of magic he provided in his career

Thoughts of fans will now inevitably turn to the moments of magic he provided in his career

Below, Sportsmail rounds up the top 10 goals of former Real Madrid winger Bale's stellar career

Below, Sportsmail rounds up the top 10 goals of former Real Madrid winger Bale's stellar career

10. TOTTENHAM 1-0 Sunderland, May 19, 2013

In Bale's final match at Tottenham before a then-record £86million move to the galacticos of Real Madrid, the north London side were desperately chasing Champions League football against lowly Sunderland.

The 90th minute, 25 yards from goal and not far in from the touchline, he took an ordinary first touch on his weaker right foot.

Such is Bale's class, even that slight mis-step was woven seamlessly into his eventual masterpiece. The ball, spinning wickedly, kissed his chest before his left foot caressed it under his spell.

Nudge it forward, fake shift to his left, nudge it forward, real shift to his left, and swish. Nothing but net. What better way to show why the Spanish giants splashed that much cash on him?

9. Stoke 1-2 TOTTENHAM, August 21, 2010

You probably forgot about this goal, didn't you. It's early Bale - but don't sleep on his early stuff. 

Aaron Lennon, who provides the assist in many of the goals on this list, hangs up a floaty cross to the far post. Too high, too floaty. Stoke don't mark Bale brilliantly, but they probably don't need to. 

It would be almost impossible to get anything on that, let alone a meaningful attempt at goal. Not unless you started tae kwon do aged two, not unless you had  the physical flexibility of a Shaolin monk or the imagination of John Lennon on LSD.

Not unle- oh wait, he's put it in the top corner. Postage stamp, not that poor old Thomas Sorensen would have saved it anyway. What daring. What technique. What genius.

8. REAL MADRID 5-1 Basel, September 16, 2014

Even the most ardent Bale hater couldn't deny the beauty and simplicity of this filthy lob in a Champions League thrashing of Basel. 

After an outside-of-the-foot through ball from Luka Modric - which, itself, by the way, could be hung in the Louvre - saw him clean through, one-on-one, but with the ball bouncing slightly awkwardly in front of him.

A good player would have waited for the ball to sit down before half-volleying, or just tried a slightly chancey lob. Bale wasn't just a good player. 

He launched it into the stratosphere, up and over a thoroughly bewildered, befuddled and bewitched goalkeeper, before watching it all the way onto the outside of his left foot to poke it into an empty net. Skip to 0.45 below for the magic. 

7. Norwich 1-1 TOTTENHAM, January 30, 2013

Which solo run and sensational finish for Tottenham against Norwich in the Premier League do you mean? The fact there are two to choose from probably tells you everything you need to know.

NOT the one where he got it inside his own half and drove at a static defence before surging past a hapless Zak Whitbread, who looked, comparatively, to be running through treacle, and dinking it impudently over the 'keeper. Although that was great.

I mean the one where he got it inside his own half (again), almost the edge of his own centre circle, breezed past Alex Tettey, cut inside and, when fans and defenders were expecting perhaps a trademark curler, walloped it into the corner.

Ten touches with his left foot is all it took. He's one-footed, some critics argue. When one is that good, who cares? 

6. WALES 2-1 Scotland, October 13,

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