Is Gareth Bale the Best Player in the World Right Now?

Gareth Bale is the hottest player in world football at the moment. Some could say he is hotter than Kate Upton, but we'll let you decide on that.

His goal-scoring record doesn't lie though. Since his hat-trick against Aston Villa on Boxing Day, Bale 10 goals in 11 games (7 in 9 Premier League games) - it's a strike rate of 90%, ahead of the likes of Manchester United's Robin van Persie (7 in 10 games).

In that same period, Barcelona's goal machine, Leo Messi, has scored 13 goals in 13 games (12 goals in 9 La Liga games) - a strike rate of 100%. One must remember that there is a winter break in Spain so Messi didn't play between 26 December 2012 and 6 January 2013.


Statistically, Messi still has the better strike rate during this period but one must consider the facts -

a) Barcelona has a superior team to Tottenham Hotspur over a league campaign. Messi can call on World Cup winners, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets in midfield who are clearly on a level above Moussa Dembele, Scott Parker, Gylfi Siggurdson and Aaron Lennon (good as those players are), no disrespect meant to Spurs' fabulous midfield quartet.


b) The difference in quality of opposition in La Liga compared to Barcelona is bigger than the difference between Tottenham and most Premier League sides. While La Liga is still a top notch league to watch, it is clearly obvious that at this point, only Barcelona and Real Madrid realistically can win the title (even if Atletico Madrid are having a brilliant season to this point, they haven't really made a serious dent to Barcelona's runaway title train). And apart from defeats away to Real Sociedad (shock!) and Real Madrid (not so much a shock) in the league, Barcelona have been unstoppable in the league and imperious at home.

Yes this season it appears Manchester United is running away with the Premier League title, but behind it, the race for the Champions League spots is as close as ever, with even current champions Manchester City, not certain of finishing 2nd ahead of Tottenham, Chelsea, Arsenal and Everton. Liverpool, Swansea and West Brom are not out of the running either.

What must also be considered is that without Bale's goals in the Premier League, Tottenham would have dropped 12 points and be in 8th place in the league and possibly out of the Europa League.

It has been a while since a player's goals have been so important to a team but it is clear that without Bale, Tottenham would be struggling to make it into Europe next season, let alone the lucrative Champions League spots.

We've been seeing a lot more hearts from Gareth Bale than most boyfriends worldwide combined

Thus, this makes Bale's latest goal scoring streak all the more impressive compared to Messi's. And on form, he is the best player in the world right now.

One must remember that saying - form is temporary, class is permanent.

However, Bale appears to be in that raging hot form to compliment the class we've always known though.

Whether FIFA chooses to acknowledge Bale's efforts with a Ballon D'Or nomination later in the year remains to be seen but Bale surely will have that PFA Player of the Season title sown up now.

And if Ronaldo does leave Real Madrid, one wonders how long Gareth Bale will stay in North London and evade opportunities to enjoy the sunny climes of Castilla or Catalonia.