With the prospect of his final World Cup on the horizon, LAFC star Gareth Bale could be a difference-maker for Wales in Qatar. He is the country’s all-time top scorer with 40 goals in 108 appearances. He also secured World Cup qualification for Wales after scoring three goals in the playoff semi-finals and final.

Throughout his career with the likes of Tottenham and Real Madrid, Gareth Bale has always been seen as one of the best talents in world football. Despite injuries taking their toll, he won 20 titles, 19 of which with Real Madrid during a wildly successful spell with the Spanish side. 

Here’s a roundup with a trio of the best Gareth Bale cards to collect, including an RC released way back in 2007, and a duo of popular signed options. 

Top 3 Gareth Bale Cards

We’ve listed a couple of RCs, and some of the best cards that contain Bale’s autograph below. 

3. 2021 Topps The Lost Rookie Cards Gareth Bale Auto #GABA (eBay)

‘The Lost Rookie Cards’ is a set looking at classic RCs that were never produced by Topps. (That’s the explanation for sticking an RC logo on a Gareth Bale card released in 2021.) 

There are both signed and unsigned versions, with base copies coming in with a print run of 1,541. Both versions have various parallels to chase, while the player is depicted in an old-school Tottenham kit. It’s ideal if you’re looking for an entry-level Gareth Bale RC.

• Parallels: Autograph #/49, Purple #/25, Purple Autograph #/25, Red #/10, Red Autograph    #/10, Orange #/5, Orange Autograph #/5, Gold 1/1, Gold Autograph  1/1

Check prices of 2021 Topps The Lost Rookie Cards Gareth Bale Auto on eBay

2. 2018 Panini Prizm World Cup Soccer Gareth Bale Auto #RR-GB (eBay)

The 2018 Panini Prizm World Cup set is where you’ll find this signed Gareth Bale card that shows the player in his Wales kit. (Ironically, Wales didn’t qualify for the 2018 tournament, coming third in a tight group.)

The Road to Russia subset looks back to seven top players from qualifying in a signed SSP insert. (In other words, it’s a way to fit players into the set, even if they didn’t qualify for the 2018 World Cup finals.)

• Parallels: Prizms #/25, Gold #/10, Black 1/1

Check prices of 2018 Panini Prizm World Cup Soccer Gareth Bale Auto on eBay

1. 2007 Panini Coca Cola Championship Gareth Bale RC #218 (eBay)

The Panini 2007 Coca Cola Championship Trading Card Game is a simple set looking at the second tier of English football. Bale was a rookie, and became the second youngest player ever to play for Southampton in April 2006. (He went on to join Tottenham a year later.)

If you’re looking for the earliest licensed collectible, it’s hard to do better than this 2007 Gareth Bale rookie card. 

Check prices of 2007 Panini Coca Cola Championship Gareth Bale RC on eBay

Buyers Guide 

We’ve put together a brief buyer’s guide looking at the best Gareth Bale cards to collect. 

There are lots of cheaper options to chase, as well as numerous affordable Bale cards released during the 2010’s. Of the trio of cards to make the list, The Lost Rookies is a great place to begin. 

Either the 2007 RC or the World Cup auto would be our pick if you’re looking for the best cards featuring the Welsh wizard. Expect to pay a premium for graded versions. 

Final Thoughts 

At the current time of writing, Bale is yet to complete a full 90 minutes for LAFC. It’s clear that he’s not the same player that he used to be, even if he’s still capable of having an impact for both club and country. His rapid pace is no more, although he’s clearly concentrating on staying fit for Qatar. We expect him to perform well at the tournament.

Despite the ridiculous trophy haul, and some great memories, there’s a feeling that Bale never lived up to his true potential. Maybe that’s the reason why his best cards are a lot cheaper than other key players from his era.