Gareth Bale scored one of the all-time great Champions League goals in Saturday night’s final against Liverpool.
The Wales star scored twice as a substitute in Real Madrid’s 3-1 win in Kiev, the first coming barely two minutes after coming on as he met Marcelo’s cross with a stunning bicycle kick to find the top corner.
Bale delivered the spectacular goal, spinning the ball off the outside of his left foot to direct it to the net – surpassing his 60-yard solo run for Tottenham against Inter Milan seven years ago.
Former England captain Gary Lineker summed it up in a sentence.
What a ridiculous goal from @GarethBale11. Unquestionably one of the best goals of all time. Here it is if you haven’t seen it: pic.twitter.com/4yQfv5HkZW
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) May 26, 2018
Fellow professionals were equally amazed.
OMG what a staggering goal from @GarethBale11 #UCLFINAL
— Alan Shearer (@alanshearer) May 26, 2018
Wow! What a goal… 🤯👌🏻
— Ross Barkley (@RBarkley20) May 26, 2018
Not joking. That may be the best goal I’ve ever seen… good timing as well like!
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) May 26, 2018
Ohmyyyyyyyyyyyy what have I just witnessed 🙊🙊⚽️ @GarethBale11 #UCLfinal #madrid #bale
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) May 26, 2018
Gareth, just walk off
— MARK NOBLE (@Noble16Mark) May 26, 2018
BRO!!! WHAT A GOAL! 😲😲😲😲#UCLFinal2018
— Jeffrey Schlupp (@Jeffrey_Schlupp) May 26, 2018
As were fans, which included the likes of Lord Sugar and Piers Morgan.
BALE!!!!!!!
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) May 26, 2018
Zidane has got a lot right in this tournament but not starting Bale was a very strange call. What a goal.
— Tom Allnutt (@TomAllnuttAFP) May 26, 2018
BALE. O my what a goal! 🔥
— Sam Billings (@sambillings) May 26, 2018
I just gave Gareth Bale a standing ovation clap on my own in an empty restaurant. What a goal!
— Rob Beckett (@robbeckettcomic) May 26, 2018
Our man Bale what a goal !!
— Lord Sugar (@Lord_Sugar) May 26, 2018
Many were reminded of teammate Cristiano Ronaldo’s spellbinding Champions League goal against Juventus last month.
i can’t believe i seen bale and ronaldo score bicycle kicks in the same year
— Noel (@Noelarayaa) May 26, 2018
Bale And Ronaldo
Bicycle Goal ❤👏
— #FinnIsMyInspiration ❤ (@FinnsStella) May 26, 2018
I’ve had the pleasure to watch Ronaldo’s bicycle kick live and now Bales champions league final bicycle kick😍😍
— Jay and Jay Train (@J_Coff12) May 26, 2018
Everybody: “Ronaldo bicycle, goal of the tournament” Gareth Bale: “hold my beer”
— Adam Abdullah (@adamabdullahcr7) May 26, 2018
And as for what the man himself thought of the goal?
"I need to be playing week-in-week-out…that hasn't happened this season."
👀👀👀
Gareth Bale speaks to @DesKellyBTS about his Real Madrid future… pic.twitter.com/cbcDC6Otvh
— Real Madrid vs Liverpool live on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 26, 2018
