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Gareth Bale goes from forgotten man to unforgettable goal as Real Madrid wins Champions League final

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.