When Gareth Bale scored that hat-trick at the San Siro, all the lingering doubts vanished into the Italian night and one of the most destructive attacking forces in British football was launched.
Confidence coursed through Bale, and he did not take another backwards glance. Having rattled the aristocrats of Inter Milan on the Champions League stage once, he did it again a fortnight later.
Before we knew it, he was in another orbit.
Declan Rice is a different type of footballer. One with a different personality and profile. He is five years older than Bale was against Inter.