A former international team-mate of both Ryan Giggs and Gareth Bale has named who, in his opinion, is the best Welsh footballer of all time
Harry Brent Senior Sports Writer
17:00, 14 Nov 2025
Ryan Giggs and Gareth Bale are two of the greatest Welsh sportsmen ever(Image: Getty Images)
The debate over who deserves the title of the greatest Welsh footballer of all time is one that shows no sign of ending. But for Rob Earnshaw, there’s no question about it.
The former Wales striker speaks from a rare position of authority – after all, he shared the pitch with two of the leading contenders: Ryan Giggs and Gareth Bale. Having witnessed both up close, Earnshaw had a front-row view of their brilliance. And in his eyes, one of them stands a level – perhaps even two – above the other.
“I’ve got to say, Gareth Bale is the best Welsh player ever,” the 44-year-old said speaking exclusively to Wales Online. “For a long time, I was split because I played with Ryan Giggs too. Giggs was always legendary, always a great player for Wales, for Manchester United, great player.
“It was always difficult for years to split them. But as Gareth Bale continued and continued to develop, there were two or three points where I had to turn around and I had to look at him and almost like be like, ‘Wow, he’s actually gone to a different level.’ And there was one point where he went to world class level… he was unstoppable.”
Few Welsh footballers have reached the global heights of Giggs and Bale, two players who defined different eras of the modern game. Both emerged as once-in-a-generation talents, blessed with pace, balance and technical brilliance, but their careers took contrasting paths.
Giggs became synonymous with Manchester United’s dominance under Sir Alex Ferguson, while Bale forged his legend abroad, becoming one of Real Madrid’s great European performers.
Giggs’ success was limited to Man Utd, while Bale enjoyed glory in England, Spain and at international level(Image: Getty Images)
Giggs rose as the jewel of ‘Fergie’s Fledglings,’ the youth-driven United side that dominated English football in the 1990s. A prodigy on the left wing, he won 13 Premier League titles, four FA Cups and two Champions Leagues, becoming a symbol of United’s golden era.
Bale’s path was different: starting as a left-back at Southampton and Tottenham, he later transformed into a devastating winger. His explosive performances – especially his famous hat-trick against Inter Milan in the Champions League – announced him as one of Europe’s most thrilling attackers.
Giggs’ domestic record remains unmatched by any Welsh player, his longevity and success in English football unparalleled. Yet Bale’s club career reached even greater heights after his world-record move to Real Madrid in 2013.
Rob Earnshaw said Ryan Giggs was “legendary,” but that Gareth Bale was “unstoppable”(Image: Getty Images)
There he won five Champions Leagues, three La Liga titles and produced unforgettable goals in major finals, cementing his status as a big-game player. Where Giggs was the model of consistency at home, Bale became a global superstar who thrived on the grandest stages.
For Wales, Bale’s impact was transformative. While Giggs’ international career never truly ignited, Bale led his country to its first major tournament in 58 years and to the semi-finals of Euro 2016. His goals, leadership and passion made him the heartbeat of Welsh football’s modern revival, whereas Giggs failed to properly make his mark on the international stage.
Ultimately, Giggs and Bale embody two different kinds of greatness: Giggs, the enduring domestic champion – Bale, the global icon who carried Wales to new heights. Both are legends – but while Giggs defined an era in England, Bale made the world take notice of Wales.
Bale’s legacy on the international stage far outstrips that of Giggs’(Image: Getty Images)
“He was a special, special player,” Earnshaw added. “I’ve got to regard him as the best Welsh player ever because he’s gone and done it. He’s gone and taken us to big championships, European championships multiple times.
“He’s gone and taken us to a World Cup. He was a big factor because if he’s not there, I don’t think everybody else believes as much. It’s different when you have a world superstar in your squad that continues to deliver and you just get wowed by it.”
Earnshaw earned 59 caps for Wales, scoring 16 goals. The former Cardiff City – who also played for West Brom, Nottingham Forest, Norwich – ace never featured for his country at a major tournament, having retired from international football in 2012, four years prior to Wales’ return to the big time.
