Sportskeeda Football 2018 Awards: 5 most memorable moments of the year

#2 Gareth Bale’s overhead kick in the Champions League final

Cristiano Ronaldo might’ve scored arguably the greatest goal in the history of the Champions League with his overhead kick for Real Madrid against Juventus in the quarter-finals. Somehow though, his Welsh teammate Gareth Bale scored a goal almost as good – and on a bigger stage too – in the final against Liverpool in May.

The game had already been full of drama as Liverpool’s Mo Salah was taken off early due to a shoulder injury inflicted by Sergio Ramos. Then a strange goal for Karim Benzema - gifted to Madrid by Liverpool keeper Loris Karius – was quickly offset by an equaliser from Sadio Mane.

Real boss Zinedine Zidane then introduced Bale to the game, and the flying Welshman had an almost immediate impact. Just 3 minutes after coming onto the pitch, Bale launched himself into the air to meet Marcelo’s left-wing cross and fired a remarkable bicycle kick into the roof of the Liverpool net.

It was probably the best goal in the history of the Champions League final – beating out Zidane’s famous volley from the 2001/02 tournament. And although Bale added a second goal following another howler from Karius, it was his first – a feat of wondrous athleticism – that will stick in the mind for years to come.

It was a goal worthy of winning any final, and it certainly stands out as one of 2018’s most memorable moments.