The Real Madrid man is on the verge of leading Wales to its first major tournament since 1958, and also has the chance to show his importance to his club.
There are some things that are beyond even the world’s most expensive player. Gareth Bale proved a one-man destroyer of Israel in March. Come Sunday’s rematch, the 85 million pound man was frustrated by the massed ranks of the Israeli defense.
Yet the fact is that he is a step nearer to Euro 2016. Barring injury, he is unlikely to follow in the footsteps of Ryan Giggs and George Best, the greats who never graced a major tournaments.