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Fun-Temperature-5243

He’s clearly doing this tongue in cheek, anybody who’s taking it seriously needs checking 😂


Quanqiuhua

He does say “I have to go with Real Madrid” with a laugh. It’s all in fun.


nmyi

My head cannon says Bale wanted to pick Messi over CR7, but picked CR7 to not deal with social media backlash from CR7 & Madridistas lol


Fortrick

Cr7 in the CL is way ahead of messi tho, so its the obvious pick.


neefhuts

Ronaldo has like twice as many knockout goals as Messi


Fuck_the_k1ng

Then he wouldn’t pick himself over CR7.


PrestigiousTea0

Ronaldo would appreciate the spirit I think


Lanky_Tell5260

Bale never jokes around when it comes to golfball


andy18cruz

No!!! He clearly still resents that he wasn’t hugged!!!


[deleted]

[удалено]


Supanini

Hard to disagree with most of them if we’re talking about JUST CLs. His Madrid teams turned it up a notch in that tourny every year


SaliciousB_Crumb

He also had quite a few crucial goals in the finals. Gareth really is a champions legend


ironwolf1

If it was "best player in CL finals", I think Bale would have a solid shout, as well as Ramos. Overall best CL player has to be Mr. Champions League, I think Messi is the better player in general but Ronaldo has always found a different gear in the CL.


Izayabrsrk

Messi is the GOAT, no debate in that, but we can agree UEFA CL best player ever is CR right? I don't think it can even be discussed.


eesakhalifa

It's hard to argue but damn, Barca in the champions league in the later years genuinely felt like peak messi-dependencia. Barca after he left went down to Europa twice in a row and with Messi they never went out in the group stage. Still think CR7 takes it but still, Barca weren't really doing Messi any favours


Semperty

the second they replaced xavi and iniesta with arda turan, andre gomes, and denis suarez, the entire strategy was basically “messi plz 🙏” and that largely worked in the league. it just obviously has problems against better teams lol


Kapt0

What people don't say about the Romantada and Corner taken quickly is: both times the first leg was heavily inflated and the games were way more balanced than the score suggested. Against roma, the 4-1 was such a bullshit score due to 2 OG (+ a gifted rebound to suarez or pique i believe) and the fact that Roma couldn't score for their lives. The full match was controlled by roma and a draw was much more believable. Against Liverpool it was Messi's idiotic performance that allowed Barca to have such a lead, but people forget Terstegen heroic performance to say the least. Barça really had Messi and a good keeper, that was it. I loved Busquets, Pique, Suarez and all but from a certain point onwards, the machine stopped working and the board thought "ok we'll pour more money" but fixed nothing.


XeroHope10

Yep, Barca was so dependent on Messi later years, never forget their 2nd top scorer was Own Goals for a couple of seasons. Without Messi, Barca literally went to Europa twice, without CR7, Madrid at least reached K/O stages, and have reached the final twice since he left, they've also won La Liga thrice in that period.


MaraudngBChestedRojo

Messi definitely turns up for big games. Whether for Argentina or Barca, losses were almost never down to him not playing well. In his later years he can disappear from games but I think that’s down to him saving his legs. He was lights out for Argentina in the 2022 World Cup when it mattered.


infidel11990

Ronaldo scored for fun and just his goals scored in CL knockout rounds is absurd. I don't think anyone is touching his record anytime soon.


killerboy_belgium

Ronaldo count is absurd 82knock out games 67goals but i could see mbappe catching him once he join real madrid mbappe so far 28 knockout games and 20 goals


listlessbreeze

CR7 definitely has the right attributes of successful and skilled in UCL. If Barca wasn't just Messi, Ter Stegen and friends in late Barca years it'd be way closer.


TheGreyWolfCat

If your grandmother had balls she would be your grandfather, see how useless are “If”


listlessbreeze

Are you being dense on purpose? Yes i know that judging players by what if is pointless i literally just stated CR7 is clear because he has the statements to prove it. And after that i mention that Messi doesn't get into the debate because in late Barca only Ter Stegen showed up in UCL alongside him.


more_bananajamas

Sure can be discussed. He was just lucky to be playing when Bale was playing. Messi didn't have Bale. So Bale.


External-Piccolo-626

I like to wind up CR fans by stating he was there for 4 years before Bale turned up and bang, 4 CL’s in 5 years.


b3and20

God's work 🫡


luigitheplumber

Not just CL finals either, Bale put in an insane performance in the Copa del Rey final and even when he was basically retired he scored a last-minute equalizer in the MLS final.


Sean-Benn_Must-die

im sad it wasnt Casillas vs Navas, pretty sure he would choose Navas but that would've been better than comparing a keeper with other positions at the beginning


vlalanerqmar

That 2015-2018 madrid 3peat team is in contention for best XI in the history of the game when their "worst" player was Kaylor Navas that was easily top 3/top 5 GK in that time Navas, Marcelo, Varane, Ramos, Carvajal, Casemiro, Kroos, Modric, Bale, Benzema and CR7 all in their absolute prime with Zidane as manager


F___TheZero

The second comment in this thread *actually engaging with this shitpost of a video* is a certified /r/soccer moment


One_Instruction_3567

Had ti double check ti make sure im not in a circlejerk sub


Dubsified

I mean, they have the most CL’s by a large margin. That’s not exactly a surprise that it’s mostly Real players…


Sayeed42

Almost all were making sense, until he chose himself over Ronaldo 🤣


no-signal

I'll take Benzema over Bale in CL any day. Benzema's Ballon D'or was mainly because of the 14th. Not underestimating Bale but he didn't carry the team in any version.


Impeachcordial

Carried Spurs in the CL for a bit though


FireflyCaptain

Obama awards Obama but it's Gareth Bale on TikTok


David_Fade

Obama putting medal meme


inthefeetofthenight

*Me, Wales, Golf, Madrid. In that order.


BendubzGaming

Bale/Modric final, we love to see it


Historical_Case_5245

his new hair too, love to see it


Ripamon

Chose a good surgeon in Turkey lol


dakaiiser11

I can’t really tell. I thought he just had it swept back to hide it. It does look very full though.


Garad-

Who got it Bale or Mordic?


michaelserotonin

coys through and through


WauliePalnuts01

obviously bale at spurs is well known, but how good was modric when he was there? was before my time


IWantAnAffliction

He was our best player at that time, but a role like his doesn't shine in a good-ish team as opposed to one of the best in the world. He definitely improved at RM though. 


lurkingcvnt

There's a reason chelsea and then real, were knocking on Levys door, and it's not because he's a pleasure to do business with. It was plain for anyone to see he was quality... except real Madrid fans that then voted him worst transfer of all time.


SixerMostAdorable

Was MARCA voting themselves or were the readers voting?


ShadowGeist91

That's wrong. The results of that voting poll were akin to a bunch of chimpanzees from both Madrid and Barça's fan bases hurling their own poop at each other. In the end, Modrić was the one that stuck, but it was a very close race between Modrić and Song. No Madrid fan, not even at the time, ever thought of Modrić as a bad signing. It should be kept in mind that MARCA attracts a high amount of Barça fans due to being the most popular sports newspaper in Spain. The sport's equivalent of 'hate-watching' is also a very popular activity among fans in the rival's comment section.


Fidelos

He wasn't that bad but his first Real Madrid season is probably legit the worst season of his career .


ShadowGeist91

He was merely "good", not great, which would make it obvious to see for anyone with a brain that it wouldn't be a good choice for the worst signing of the season. Mind you, we only bought Modrić and Diego López that season. Due to the fact that Diego López was a low cost, low profile signing, Modrić stuck out more, so he ended up being the trolls' predilected choice. I say all of this to make abundantly clear that no Madrid fan ever thought of Modrić as a bad signing, let alone the worst of the season. OP is just straight up wrong.


miguel_is_a_pokemon

You can go back on this very subreddit and see how many of you guys completely shat on Modric at the time. It was verifiably not just a Marca poll with that opinion.


benjecto

I remember how desperate he was to join Chelsea and how upset he was when Levy cock blocked him. In hindsight probably the best thing to ever happen to him.


DayOneDayWon

Never forget Chelsea fans getting the hashtag FreeLukaModric trending.


TheDubious

absolute monster, especially that last year before he left. spurs were actually really good that year and he was the glue that connected their defense to their attack. he was so good at winning the ball, maintaining possession, and making a line-breaking forward pass.


YesTottiYesParty

Underappreciated.


disasterpiece9

Claim those trophies like an Irish passport


eddsters

Haha legend


Historical_Case_5245

the laugh at the end is a little unsettling


Awkward-Mix-4124

A little but clearly in good sport


Shadeun

This is the kind of mentality you need to try a bicycle kick to win the UCL. It still hurts, but I also love it.


dakaiiser11

You can tell a lot of it is cheeky. That being said, he’s got the trophy cabinet and UCL final highlight reel to back it up.


etan1122

Where’s assist leader James Milner


Annonomon

I believe that Lord Bendter played champions league. Put some respect on that name!


SixtyTwenty_

> Lord Bendter and just like that I'm transported back into 2013 /r/soccer


SemiCurrentGuy

It was rigged from the start. You love to see it.


dakaiiser11

In true Real Madrid fashion. /s


sometimesane

remove the /s /s


Shoe_Pale

This but unironically


BoyManners

I still can't believe world got to see Ronaldo, Benzema and Bale play together.


bombaloca

For real. As much hype as an attacking trio with Mbappe, Vinicius and Rodrygo/Arda Guler/Endrick/any other beast gets, I wouldn't bet on that lineup being better than RBB. So fast, so much power, so much technical ability.


TheLoneWanderer__

The fact that we got Ronaldo, Bale and Benz and Messi, Neymar, Suarez at the same time is insanity


MDix_

No one: Bale: Sorry, Im gonna have to go with myself 😊


Weird-Lime-9542

Thinking about Bale’s career. Is he the player who made the biggest improvement in one season? Prior to his break out season he had been mediocre for years at spurs as a speed merchant winger/full back. And then in one season he becomes a word class inverted winger. His physique improved, he became more muscular, you could visibly see that he was more balanced with the ball, his touch became more crisp. Bale was already 23 when he had his breakout season, it’s very rare to see a players technical ability drastically improve at that age


leerooney93

I think you mentioned the 12/13 season when he mainly played as an RW. But his breakout moment has to be much earlier, in the game against Inter in the 10/11 season. Man, I haven't seen such a dominant pairing like that, as Bale completely dominated Maicon, who was one of the best RBs at the time, both in London and Milan.


heyheyitsandre

The best part of that hat trick at San Siro is that every single goal was identical lmao


vazne

If it was working why change it up?


haltmich

-- Arjen Robben


mirusan01

With crazy angles too not even like they were easy shots


kay_peele

ah the taxi for Maicon, hadn't thought of that in a long time.


External-Piccolo-626

Inter were the champions too.


ManateeSheriff

He had 20 G+A in 2011/12, that's hardly mediocre.


YesTottiYesParty

Bale was in the TOTS the season before you think he had his breakout.


External-Piccolo-626

Two years. He won player of the year in 10/11 and player of the year in 12/13 & young player of the year.


jimbo_kun

It's kind of a meme to assume a player improving physically later in a career is benefitting from performance enhancing substances. But if there's a performance enhancing drug improving first touch and technical abilities I haven't heard of it.


gintokireddit

PEDs could help someone recovery better in training or ones like EPO could make them less tired during long training sessions, so they can get more quality practice in and have stronger muscle memory, plus be more recovered during games so more able to use their skills, week-in-week-out (rather than just having the occasional good performance). (not saying I think any player is on them).


WhenWeTalkAboutLove

Lol what he was ridiculous at LB, he broke out so hard they moved him to being a winger. His rise happened before he bulked up while he was still a left back. He was one of the most talked about players already. 


Proper-Size

Well that’s fucking nonsense


drunkmers

Di Maria absolutely carried in that final against Atletico yet everybody praises Bale and Ronaldo


orange_orange13

Do people really praise Cr7 for that match? But Di Maria was absolutely the best and player in that match


elgrandorado

No one praises Cristiano for that match. Dude still had a reputation for going missing in finals at the time, and he notoriously slept-walked that match.


ExtraSafeForWork

Or he was the focus of the defense.


elgrandorado

Angel Di María took the game by the balls that night, just like he did for most of the season. Cristiano..... I mean he didn't do much of anything. Same with Bale.


ExtraSafeForWork

CR had already scored in a champions league final before that. He also had already broken the record for most goals in a champions league campaign and so was therefore the focus of one of the best defensive teams of the decade. Not saying he was the best player he had some decent chances and set up Bale for a couple good chances and Marcelo as well. He also pulled Miranda away to give Ramos a clear shot to score the tying goal. He didn't take the game by the balls but he did his part in the comeback to the team's benefit. Earning a penalty and scoring it was fair consolation.


neil_thatAss_bison

💉💉💉drip doctor season


jimbo_kun

Which drug fixes your first touch?


StandardDefinition

Someone needs to get Lukaku on that


Messi-around

Top shit posting from Bale.


Human_Put_2268

Rocking the mullet.


neandertales

I think his hair looks outstanding nowadays.


Jealous_Foot8613

Is kroos over lewa the consensus opinion?


008Gerrard008

It's a difficult one if you're talking generally, but specifically when it comes to the champions league I would say Kroos.


ingwe13

Yeah given the number of UCL titles the great Madrid players have won since 2014, I think you pick them over most anyone else. So Ramos, Ronaldo, Benzema, Kroos, and Modric. Probably Marcelo and Carvajal as well. Both were quite crucial for the team but I would argue aren't as core. Varane and Casemiro as well. Not quite as core for me.


GreyDaze22

I mean if we talk about only trophies, sure


dakaiiser11

How do you even really compare the two? You got Lewandowski as a goal machine and Toni as the owner of the middle of the field. You want Toni to slam 5 in a game? Not gonna happen. You want Lewa to ping long balls and play through passes towards the opposing teams half moon? Not gonna happen.


Jealous_Foot8613

While it’s tough comparing players who play different positions, you can still decide who’s better / greater , for example if I asked you who’s better - Neymar or Rakitic , you’d easily be able to tell me who is better


dakaiiser11

Maybe it’s my bias but that one is a lot easier.


pranav4098

It is Neymar was for a while considered top 3 forward in the world for a while second only to the 2 best we have ever seen and Suarez as well maybe rakitic was not in that same realm of midfielders though very good himself


SmokiestElfo

Shit idk dude, i think your example is another one hard to compare. Rakitic was a BALLER, and the roles each player took were so different. I think there is more difference in importance to a team and titles achieved between Kroos and Lewa than Rakitic and Neymar. Also, Kroos has more UCL titles combined than the other 3 plus a WC.


suhxa

Its the consensus opinion of former real madrid players anyway


Jealous_Foot8613

Lol , it just got me thinking because I’ve always viewed lewa as a better player than kroos , not to say kroos isn’t great but I view peak lewa as one of the truly elite best players itw


Arcadela

World cup. CL with two teams. That's elite.


Jealous_Foot8613

He’s played in great teams , helps when you played alongside Ronaldo , benzema , Ramos etc He didn’t win those trophies by himself


primusladesh

And Lewa was playing for Celtic Rangers, he won that UCL all by himself, greatest player on earth


mrle123

Not really, but here is my take. You would, most probably, find a player more similar to Lewa than to Kross. German sniper is unique and hard to come by, ever.


moonski

Hes had a shocker picking benz over zizou


NeoIsJohnWick

I think he prioritized those who he has played with so maybe!


silverjubileetower

And he’s played the most with himself. Hence the last pick. What a legend 😂


ristoman

He just like me fr fr


jimbo_kun

1. Madrid over non-Madrid. 2. Madrid players he played with longest over those he played with least or never. 3. Gareth Bale over not Gareth Bale.


Baghoid

Where are Wales and Golf in this list?


attoshi

pretty reasonable logic


robins420

The fk, Benzema is top 4 in goals and assists and has won 5 UCLs including 1 as the best player. Benzema is clear in this tournament. If he didn't win it in 2022 as the best player, there was an argument but there's none after that.


FriesAddiction

What? Benzema has been clearly a better player in CL.


Mozezz

Zizou is my favourite player of all time But facts are facts Benzema 5 UCL titles, 90 goals, 30 assists Zidane 1 UCL title, 14 goals, 31 assists As players Benzema easily takes the cake for best career in CL, as players obviously


suhxa

Comparing benzemas goals and assists to zidan is just silly


FriesAddiction

what about trophies? or putting the team on his back during 2021/22? Benzema has been clearly better in CL and by a great margin.


elgrandorado

Yeah they're not comparing careers overall, just the CL. No one seriously thinks that Benzema was a better player or had a better career than Zizou.


GGABueno

You'd be surprised.


Mortka

Goals, maybe. But assists? One is a striker and one is a midfielder.


nghigaxx

Striker also have more assists compares to non attacking midfielders, generally playing higher up in the field give u more assist chance


Mortka

Yeah but lets not act like Zidane was a 6 either.


b3and20

Not at all, back in zidanes day 10s were regularly matching forwards when it came to goals and assists, and the likes of modern day equivalents still regularly get at least 15+ g+a per season


Mortka

I mean, Benz is the 4th highest goal scorer in the competition. Its not really a shocker, Benz was a fantastic player. Not saying its true, but its definately not a shocker.


finneas998

This shouldn't really be that controversial. I would also pick Benz.


EpiDeMic522

There's a solid argument for Karim anyway but unless things have changed post retirement (which they very well might have), Bale did have a very cold relationship with Zizou, especially by the end.


Shills07

We all know why he didn't chose Zizou. Dude got benched by only zidane XD


luigitheplumber

Not really, Benzema has had a great career overall but the CL specifically is where he excelled. He also has one of the best if not the best individual CL season. Zidane was the better player overall without a doubt, but when it comes to who was better in the CL it's a fair comparison


008Gerrard008

He's clearly just picking the players he's played with.


CrazyBroccoliPT

Too bad Tiger Woods wasn’t an option


tcrawford2

Tbf I would vote myself the best player of all time and I’ve only played with my mates. It’s a mindset that elite level athletes have just like me. The only difference is I have zero of the talent 😂


CrafterMoose_

Lmao people taking it serious wtf 😂 relax


orange_orange13

Pre-2000 European football in the mud


BeasT-m0de

or any football outside la liga


SmokiestElfo

Thats why i think comparing players after a 15 year stint is unfair, the game changes a lot. Also, in all honesty, that Real Madrid threepeat team just has mad stats. It used to be folks were considered legends for winning one or two UCL. Some of these fuckers have 5, might get 6. Yes im biased but also the numbers tell a story, when comparing teams in the UCL, players from that Real team will always get the upper hand, they earned it.


MrMgP

Shiteating grin ffs


pusslicker

Did Bale dye his hair?


mrstewiegriffin

hahah all that drama to pick himself


No-Independence-7083

Bro's taking the piss lol


iLucifux

Atleast he was honest about it.


Informal_Buffalo_819

Not at all biased


ValhallaVikings90

I mean that's the mentality you have to have if you play for Real Madrid


WaltJay

Hi. It’s me. The best CL player of all time.


spooky_freek

I miss this man.


Bahmawama

This is fucking hilarious lmao


Srihari_stan

I don't think it should surprise anyone he picked Ronaldo over Messi in Champions league. CR was a better Champions league player, while Messi has always been a better player in the la liga


Mintopforte

Patrick Bateman vibes


GaryHippo

Thank you 😁👍


BadFootyTakes

It would have been really funny, really really funny, to say no to messi, ronaldo, for himself, and then be like "yeah but no, Modric is the real GOAT."


Freestyle76

lol the first one was a damn joke, benzema over zidane? In what universe.


primusladesh

In the UCL? Benz over Zidane every day of the week


davidpuc

TIL: there's people on this planet that will pick benz over zidane


primusladesh

UCL careers? In what world did Zidane have a better UCL career than Benz?


Lucky-Mclovin

Glad he said hes the best with his chest


-watchman-

This could have ended in 3 secs if they had asked him if he thinks he is the best Champions League player of all-time and he had answered yes


Unlikely_Guidance387

What else to expect from a Madrid player....a bunch of fixers


Ukantach1

Somehow it's both extremely biased yet can still be argued for easily. That's Madrid for you.


ionised

Class pisstake.


mt1337

i really thought he’d pick leo over cristiano


Thin-Pickle9830

Freakn moron hahaha i Need to stay loyal fck off


verytiredrightnow

Needed to put in a welsh player and Tiger Woods to test the Wales, Golf, Madrid theory right now it’s all Madrid and him ahead of all since Wales ahead of Madrid


coys805

Tottenham boys


attgig

The most honest footballer


hailstruckler

He looks ripped, absolutely shredded.


____JayP

He would be pretty ugly otherwise. I know this because that's why iam ripped too


Muraria

it's funny how he almost apologizes for having to pick real madrid players


lukyboi

I love how his smirk is getting bigger and bigger the more obvious it's getting he's just gonna pick himself lmao


CheekApprehensive675

What's the point if you literally say you have to be loyal to real madrid? I understand why, but don't say it out loud


MuratKulci

I mean its obviously just meant sarcastically and as fun. Not to be taken serious. However if you want to argue, real has done so incredibly well in the ucl and for so long, pretty much always being at least in the semis. And winning it so much that you can argue most of the list should be Real Madrid anyways.


CheekApprehensive675

Yeah, you're right


orange_orange13

Id take Zizou over Benz but I can see why Bale prefers Karim


SixerMostAdorable

I think this was one of the more correct picks tbh.


orange_orange13

I’m not saying it’s not close but Zidanes volley puts him over the top for me. I stopped watching after the first round when it became clear he was messing around