Alfredo Di Stefano, Ferenc Puskas, Raul, Zinedine Zidane, the two Ronaldo's may all be football Gods in the eyes of Real Madrid fans.
Until this Final in the Olimpiysky Stadium in Kiev Gareth Bale could only dream of being accepted the same way by the Madridistas.
But after his wonder goal against Liverpool whatever the future holds for Bale at The Bernabeu his Madrid past is now emblazoned in glory forever.
Call it what you like breathtaking, stunning, beyond brilliant - his overhead kick will live in the memory as arguably the greatest goal ever seen in a major final.
The 1988 European Championship goal by Marco van Basten for Holland is up there so is Zinedine Zidane's 2002 goal which helped Madrid win the Champions League Final.
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Unhappy Bale fuels Real Madrid exit talk moments after winning Champions League
Gareth Bale lifts the Champions League trophy (Image: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
A true Galactico: Gareth Bale (Image: David Ramos/Getty Images)But the technique, audacity and sheer skill of Bale's 64th-minute bicycle kick which stunned Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool will take some beating.
And it capped an astonishing turnaround for Welshman Bale who had cut a forlorn figure in the Real Madrid dugout after being left out of the starting line-up.
Instead of sulking Bale did what all true stars so – he drew on his talent to make a statement that sent doubting Madrid fans into raptures.
And he didn't stop at one. His late goal after yet another Loris Karius blunder cemented a place in Madrid's rich European history.
Whatever path Bale's career takes he can now be ranked as one of the Bernabeu's finest.
Bale scored a stunning overhead kick (Image: David Ramos/Getty Images)
A goal fitting of winning a European final (Image: David Ramos/Getty Images)
The Welshman strikes from distance to score (Image: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
For the former Tottenham star has now banked a staggering four Champions League winners medals.
That makes him European football royalty on a huge scale and no other British player comes close.
Bale never expected to be taken into the bosom of Madrid fans like Cristiano Ronaldo or Sergio Ramos.
But after scoring goals like his stunning 2014 Copa del Rey winner against Barcelona, he could at least expect to be given some acclaim.
Now the adoration he craved is his – and not even Ronaldo could deny him his moment of glory last night in a final that lived up to its billing.
Jurgen Klopp knew it would take “big balls football” to stop the Real Madrid juggernaut in its tracks in Kiev.
Bale celebrates scoring for Real Madrid (Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
The Welshman led Real Madrid to victory (Image: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
But even though another final defeat for the Kop boss left him devastated he couldn't have expected his stars to respond to a crisis that would have crippled most teams in a Champions League Final.
As if losing Mo Salah wasn't bad enough after the Egyptian suffered a shoulder injury in a challenge with arch-enemy Sergio Ramos after just 25 minutes of an enthralling final there was more anguish for Liverpool.
A bizarre opening goal by Karem Benzema after Karius carelessly tried to clear was a massive body blow.
But Klopp then saw the true heart of his Liverpool team as they responded with venom to equalize through Sadio Mane.
Liverpool made plenty of noise ahead of this Champions League Final and why not after demolishing all-conquering Premier League Champions Manchester City 5-1 and Roma 7-6 on the way to the final.
Loris Karius spilled Bale's long-range effort (Image: AFP)
Bale consoles Karius at full-time (Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
The Liverpool spin machine – with Klopp at its center – made certain the reds went into this final on a wave of optimism around their chances of upsetting Real Madrid.
Klopp wasn't slow to big-up his Holy Trinity of Salah, Roberto Firmino, and Sadio Mane and was on the front foot with a “We are Liverpool” mantra designed to unsettle the Spaniards.
That kind of tub-thumping needed to be backed by a good start. And Klopp got it.
Liverpool was confident, full of energy and carried a swagger befitting a team who believed they were on the verge of a big turning point in their development.
Sadly their dream was destroyed by a team with a European DNA that's been honed to perfection and it will take more than drum-banging to end their reign as Champions League kings.
Despite defeat, many of the key building blocks are in place for Liverpool and if Klopp can add another creative midfield force, a top-drawer winger and a quality keeper he will have the tools to kick on.
A goal fitting of winning a European final (Image: David Ramos/Getty Images)The Welshman strikes from distance to score (Image: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)For the former Tottenham star has now banked a staggering four Champions League winners medals.
That makes him European football royalty on a huge scale and no other British player comes close.
Bale never expected to be taken into the bosom of Madrid fans like Cristiano Ronaldo or Sergio Ramos.
But after scoring goals like his stunning 2014 Copa del Rey winner against Barcelona, he could at least expect to be given some acclaim.
Now the adoration he craved is his – and not even Ronaldo could deny him his moment of glory last night in a final that lived up to its billing.
Jurgen Klopp knew it would take “big balls football” to stop the Real Madrid juggernaut in its tracks in Kiev.
Bale celebrates scoring for Real Madrid (Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)The Welshman led Real Madrid to victory (Image: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)But even though another final defeat for the Kop boss left him devastated he couldn't have expected his stars to respond to a crisis that would have crippled most teams in a Champions League Final.
As if losing Mo Salah wasn't bad enough after the Egyptian suffered a shoulder injury in a challenge with arch-enemy Sergio Ramos after just 25 minutes of an enthralling final there was more anguish for Liverpool.
A bizarre opening goal by Karem Benzema after Karius carelessly tried to clear was a massive body blow.
But Klopp then saw the true heart of his Liverpool team as they responded with venom to equalize through Sadio Mane.
Liverpool made plenty of noise ahead of this Champions League Final and why not after demolishing all-conquering Premier League Champions Manchester City 5-1 and Roma 7-6 on the way to the final.
Loris Karius spilled Bale's long-range effort (Image: AFP)Bale consoles Karius at full-time (Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)The Liverpool spin machine – with Klopp at its center – made certain the reds went into this final on a wave of optimism around their chances of upsetting Real Madrid.
Klopp wasn't slow to big-up his Holy Trinity of Salah, Roberto Firmino, and Sadio Mane and was on the front foot with a “We are Liverpool” mantra designed to unsettle the Spaniards.
That kind of tub-thumping needed to be backed by a good start. And Klopp got it.
Liverpool was confident, full of energy and carried a swagger befitting a team who believed they were on the verge of a big turning point in their development.
Sadly their dream was destroyed by a team with a European DNA that's been honed to perfection and it will take more than drum-banging to end their reign as Champions League kings.
Despite defeat, many of the key building blocks are in place for Liverpool and if Klopp can add another creative midfield force, a top-drawer winger and a quality keeper he will have the tools to kick on.
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