Once the most expensive transfer in soccer history, he has become the most expensive substitute of all time, with injuries and his team's poor start relegating him to a seat on the end of the bench. With Real Madrid in crisis, Bale appeared to be on his way out just four months ago, part of a rumored housecleaning that also would cost manager Zinedine Zidane his job.
But on Saturday, with time running out in the Champions League final, Zidane sent Bale into a tie game and Bale rewarded him with one of the most spectacular goals in the tournament's long history, starting Real Madrid to a 3-1 win over Liverpool in Kiev.