Sportskeeda's list of 50 best players playing currently: 20-11

#11 Gareth Bale

Gareth Bale had a fantastic year for both club and country

Say what you will about Gareth Bale living in Cristiano Ronaldo’s shadow, the truth is, the dragon never sleeps. The Welshman oozes determination and, having progressed through the Southampton youth ranks and the Tottenham first team to play for his boyhood love the Galacticos, he has become an idol for many young football fans.

Since signing for Real Madrid in 2013, Bale has scored more than 50 goals for Los Blancos and this year has been no different. The 27-year-old has scored 5 goals in 11 matches in La Liga this term, while he spearheaded the underdogs Wales at this year’s European Championships, where he scored three and created six chances. It’s been an impressive year for Bale, and one edged really only by CR7 and the MSN partnership.

Bale possesses the ability to burst out of the blocks at lightning speed, evade opponents with his awesome agility, while his lethal left boot leaves defence quivering in their boots. He has become the complete forward and since his Spanish switch, he’s won two UEFA Champions League titles and the Copa del Rey, rendering him one of the most dangerous and promising players on the planet, certainly the best not to make the top ten.