Who is the greater player: Ryan Giggs vs Gareth Bale

[Fortitude]

Seen this discussion taking place as part of a broader conversation and thought it was threadworthy. For me personally, there's quite a gap between them, but the facts state that Gareth Bale has had a tremendous career for both club and country, when all is said and done. He also has the merit of being talismannic for his country as opposed to Giggs, who many believe thought his interest in international football for Wales was practically non-existent.

There aren't many players who enter prime Giggs' stratosphere for pace, but in Bale, you've got one of the greatest athletic specimens of the last 30 years who many would fancy in a foot race against any other footballer during his, or any other time. Technically, it's quite a push-pull between the two: Bale being a kick-and-run merchant in terms of dribbling, as opposed to Giggs' ridiculous close control and slaloming style at pace. On the other side of the technical comparison, Bale's manipulation of a ball in terms of crossing, passing, shooting, free kicks and corners was a cut above Giggs'. Interesting, then, that of the two, Bale is seen to be the one who is reliant on his athleticism. To be fair, we'll see what is what with Bale in terms of his game some way past his peak, in the next couple of years, just as we did with Giggs for the 6 or so before retirement.

Tale of the tape:

European Cups: Bale - 4 ; Giggs - 2

League Titles: Bale - 1 ; Giggs - 13

FA Cups (comparative): Bale - 1 ; Giggs - 4

League Cups: Bale - 0 ; Giggs - 3

World Club Cup: Bale - 3 ; Giggs - 1

Super Cup: Bale - 3 ; Giggs - 1

Charity Shield (comparative): Bale - 1 ; Giggs - 9

Individual

Giggs

​

PFA Young Player of the Year: 1991–92, 1992–93
PFA Team of the Year: 1992–93 Premier League, 1997–98 Premier League, 2000–01 Premier League, 2001–02 Premier League, 2006–07 Premier League, 2008–09 Premier League
PFA Team of the Century: 1997–2007[174]
PFA Players' Player of the Year: 2008–09
PFA Merit Award: 2016
FWA Tribute Award: 2007
Bravo Award: 1993
BBC Sports Personality of the Year: 2009
BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year: 1996, 2009
GQ Sportsman of the Year: 2010[175]
Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year: 1997–98
Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year: 1990–91, 1991–92
Manchester United Players' Player of the Year: 2005–06[176]
Premier League 10 Seasons Awards (1992–93 to 2001–02): Overall Team of the Decade
Premier League 20 Seasons Awards (1992–93 to 2011–12): Best Player
Premier League 20 Seasons Awards (1992–93 to 2011–12): Fantasy Teams of the 20 Seasons public and panel choice
Premier League 20 Seasons Awards (1992–93 to 2011–12): Most Player Appearances (596)
UEFA Champions League 10 Seasons Dream Team (1992 to 2002): 2002
Wales Player of the Year Award: 1996, 2006
Premier League Player of the Month: August 2006, February 2007[173]
BBC Goal of the Season: 1998–99
Intercontinental Cup Most Valuable Player of the Match Award: 1999[177]
English Football Hall of Fame Inductee: 2005
UEFA Champions League top assist provider: 2009–10[178]
Golden Foot: 2011
Globe Soccer Awards Player Career Award: 2019[179]
IFFHS Legends[180]

Bale

​

Tottenham Hotspur Young Player of the Year: 2009–10,[273] 2010–11[274]
Tottenham Hotspur Player of the Year: 2012–13
UEFA Best Player in Europe Award: 2016 (3rd place)[275]
UEFA Team of the Year: 2011,[276] 2013[277]
UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season: 2015–16[278]
Welsh Footballer of the Year: 2010,[47] 2011,[279] 2013,[280] 2014,[281] 2015,[282] 2016[283]
ESM Team of the Year: 2012–13[284]
The Football Manager Team of the Decade: 2015[285]
Premier League Player of the Month: April 2010, January 2012, February 2013[286]
PFA Team of the Year: 2006–07 Championship,[287] 2010–11 Premier League,[52] 2011–12 Premier League,[288] 2012–13 Premier League[82]
PFA Players' Player of the Year: 2010–11,[52] 2012–13[82]
PFA Young Player of the Year: 2012–13[82]
FWA Footballer of the Year: 2012–13[289]
Premier League Player of the Season: 2012–13[286]
FIFA FIFPro World11 2nd team: 2013[290]
FIFA FIFPro World11 3rd team: 2014, 2016[291][292]
FIFA FIFPro World11 4th team: 2015[293]
FIFA FIFPro World11 5th team: 2017[294]
FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball: 2018[295]
FIFA Club World Cup top goalscorer: 2014, 2018
BBC Wales Carwyn James Junior Sportsman of the Year: 2006[18]
FAW Young Player of the Year: 2007[296]
BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year: 2010[297]


On a United board, this might be tilted with little objectivity, who knows? Perhaps another challenge is those who don't know of Giggs in his prime, as an electric winger, or the plaudits and weight his name carried back then, will automatically pick Bale having seen his rise and glory for themselves. Again, who knows?

A solid exposition on this topic would be fun. Would a poll also be possible?

Who has your vote, and why?

 

[El Jefe]

I'd take Bale at his peak but Giggsy's longevity and consistency easily makes him the greater player.

Bale's career is descending into a bit of a joke now. But even with his dreadful last three seasons he's still preserved his legacy by scoring arguably the best goal in a CL final.

 

[OL29]

Bale was the best player in the league at his peak which I don’t think Giggs ever was. May not be a far way of judging but I think Bale reached greater heights.

 

[Skills]

Internationally Bale's probably had a more acclaimed career - due to his Champions League performances/wins & also he was pretty good for Wales in the Euros a few years ago. Those factors & also being probably one of the more marketable players of this current era of football means he'll get more props than Giggs.

Giggs overall had a better career though. The list of domestic titles are insane and it's not as if he was a passenger in any of them. He played his role for Manchester United at all moments - from the goal in the FA Cup Semi Final Replay, penalty in Moscow to even his scuffed shot in the 99 final that Sheringham hooked in. Fact is Giggs was a key player in the most successful era in the biggest club in English footballs history from 17/18 years old through to his late 30.

Giggs' longevity also goes against him a bit. Often around here you see some people say Scholes was more 'talented' than Giggs which I find a bit ridiculous. Ryan Giggs was easily the most talented player from the 'class of 92'. He established himself in the starting line up earlier and younger than any of them as a prodigy and then he also out lasted all of them by converting into a CM.

 

[The holy trinity 68]

Giggs is the greater player, at both of their peaks? Still Giggs. Bale was amazing for a short period, then injuries hampered him. People also forgot how good Giggs actually was in his younger years. Giggs in his prime could have played for any team in the world just like Bale. Both amazing but Giggs has longevity and was not a crock for a number of years.

 

[Grande]

Ryan Giggs at his peak was one of the best players around. For a while it was a toss-up of him or Luis Figo as the worlds best winger. Many on this board (and other boards) didn’t get to see that fully, and rely on Giggs absurd flexibility, longevity, leadership and professionality, all of which Gareth Bale could learn a lot from.
Peak Bale had nothing on peak Giggs, though. Apart from Ronaldo at his side.

 

[TwoSheds]

Don't see how Bale is a better passer than Giggs myself.

 

[The holy trinity 68]

Bale was the best player in the league at his peak which I don’t think Giggs ever was. May not be a far way of judging but I think Bale reached greater heights.

Firstly, Bale being the best in the league at his peak is debatable. However, Bale would never have been the best player in the league in any year that Giggs was playing. The only reason Bale was arguably the best is because the league declined in great players for a few years. Giggs had Cantona, Shearer, Henry, Ronaldo, Rooney all in their prime at one point while playing. Bale had Suarez, Aguero and Hazard (who was hit and miss), of them three, for me only Aguero is in the same tier as Cantona, Shearer, Henry, Ronaldo, Rooney.

 

[Class of 63]

Hang on, they're both Welsh, what sort of debate is that if you can't be accused of English bias, or hating the Irish?

Giggs, and by quite some distance anyway.

 

[Gee Male]

I was slightly shocked that this was a debate. My initial reaction was just, Giggs obvs, but there you go. Might be bias, but I have always liked Bale.

As good as Bale has been, he has never excited me the way Giggs did in his younger days. Giggs running at players as a teenager was just something else, like a breakthrough for football, like going from black and white to colour. To think he transitioned over years to what he became is mental.

So yeah. Giggs.

 

[thepolice123]

Have to give it to Giggs.

Peak Bale was a bigger matchwinner than Giggs. He can carry a team by himself (Wales) and can be game changer in a team of superstars (Real). However, his peak was very short, its 3-4 years max. He's only 30 but I think he is essentially done at the top level. Giggs at his age went on for another 10 years.

 

[Handré1990]

Giggs

 

[ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg]

I don’t think there is much of a debate.

Giggs will always be talked about as one of the greats of the game, Bale won’t. Bale’s path was similar to Owen - both of which were terrific players for a few years, both burnt out and injuries took their toll. Both will be remembered more for their international exploits than for their club careers.

I don’t imagine anyone will talk about Bale when his career is finished (unless you are Welsh) with any great passion or affection. Giggs 100%.

 

[Rado_N]

The only reason it’s even a ‘debate’ is recency bias.

 

[Bwuk]

Giggs, but Bales top level was higher imo.

 

[horsechoker]

The Stone Roses

 

[Demyanenko_square_jaw]

Giggs better creatively, dribbler ( i don't agree Bale was a better passer) and midfielder, with Bale the better direct attacker in the final third and goalscorer (even with his injury decline he's got around five seasons where he's getting about 1 in 2). Unless Bale really surprises everyone with a resurgence, Giggs has it easy for longevity and durability.

 

[Pow]

Id take a peak bale over giggs. He got wales to a euro semi final too.

 

[T00lsh3d]

Giggs’ longevity bizarrely seems to count against him here, it makes it look like he never had a peak comparable to Bale’s peak.

 

[TheReligion]

Thus far Bale hasn't been able to get past his injuries and reinvent himself a la Giggs to prolong his career. It doesn't look likely it will happen either.

 

[Inter Yer Nan]

Giggs and it’s not even close.

 

[Eyepopper]

Eh, wait, I need to think....

 

[bosnian_red]

Bale was at his best as a second striker essentially. Giggs obviously a winger and then a creative midfielder at the end, but overall careers without a doubt Giggs. Creatively, technically, on the wing, passing, intelligence, etc all Giggs. Bales shooting/finishing/goal scoring and playing as a striker is miles better than what Giggs could do in those aspects though.

Peak level in their respective best positions, I'd probably say pretty close and maybe Bale shading it even, but only because his "peak" would be to win games out of nothing with 30 yard screamers. So I'd say the goalscorers will always get the bigger acclaim in the end (for a reason), but his peak was short lived that Giggs wins by a distance overall.

 

[galwayfa]

It is giggs too imo, but bale at his best was brilliant, giggs when he burst on to the scene, had a rawness and no fear attitude, bale would stick one in to top corner from outside of the box, both brilliant but giggs for me.

 

[Bebestation]

Bale to me is better than Ryan Giggs (& in his peak bale to me was in top 4,5 players); however he has messed up with his career choices - playing long term at the wrong club in what in my POV was the wrong position and what I would argue righfully to be underdog to one of the/ or if not some regarded the GOAT and ending up coming up 3rd,4th 5th in the process at the club.

In my opinion he could have done his bit at Madrid and left to be the central part of any different team and we wouldn't be having this conversation because not only did he score the best CL final goal I've ever seen but could have ended up being a legend at another club like Giggs ended up being at a club that suited him.

But he didnt because he became a busted flush at Madrid and a underappreciated one like most ones are.

Bale was one of my most biased and favourite players at his prime and I thought of him as a less efficient, cheaper version/not as good version of C Ronaldo and that Madrid were lucky to have both. However I wanted to see Bale more as a ST/CAM he plays for wales the older he grew and less the RW that he seemed to struggle with.

Giggs on the other hand managed his on the pitch transition perfectly from wing to CM - and that's the benefit of being at the right club alongside having great skill and intelligence.

Better individual ability and prime - Bale
Better long term career - Giggs

 

[Archi]

Firstly, Bale being the best in the league at his peak is debatable. However, Bale would never have been the best player in the league in any year that Giggs was playing. The only reason Bale was arguably the best is because the league declined in great players for a few years. Giggs had Cantona, Shearer, Henry, Ronaldo, Rooney all in their prime at one point while playing. Bale had Suarez, Aguero and Hazard (who was hit and miss), of them three, for me only Aguero is in the same tier as Cantona, Shearer, Henry, Ronaldo, Rooney.

I think you're underestimating Suarez a little. As much as I hated him, I think 2012-13 Suarez was one of the best individual seasons in the PL era

 

[TsuWave]

Giggs.

Bale has had a good career, and even though he contributed to some of them CL wins, he’s been a passenger for large parts of his spell at Real. I don’t think you could ever really say that about Giggs.

I’m not even one of those “longevity > everything else”, but I don’t see how anyone could really argue that Bale is > Giggs. Maybe you could argue that Bale’s peak was higher than anything Giggs produced, even then it would be arguable, but said peak was so short lived...

 

[Maluco]

People love technical players and always have a bias for them when discussing players qualities. Football is a game about getting the ball in the goal, but players who are easier on the eye will always grab more attention.

I think there is something special about brute force and pace. Bale had ability, but it was that drive and acceleration at his peak that was so exciting to watch for me. That goal against Barca in the Copa del Rey final was jaw dropping. So much pace and power.

I think I would chose Bale at his peak for my team just because of his ability to be a match winner by himself, even if his team wasn’t playing well.

Giggs is the better footballer, without underselling Bales ability, but that pace, power and ball striking would have me choose Bale for a big game.

 

[Ramshock]

Eh, wait, I need to think....

/thread

feck sake lads

 

[TheLord]

The question in the thread could have been better phrased as, "Who was the better player at the peak of their careers"?

By asking who's the greater player instead, this thread smacks of borderline embarrassment.

 

[Baneofthegame]

For me it’s an easier choice, if you started with a team and a 17 yr old Giggs or Bale, I’d pick Giggs every time.

Perhaps for 4-6 years you would be at a disadvantage, but not a huge one in my opinion.

Both outstanding players, prime for prime Bale may well have the edge.

 

[Tarrou]

Bale was better at his peak, for me. He was the most expensive player in the world at one stage, was making the difference in UCL finals, and dragged Wales to a Euros semi

It's easy to forget just how good Giggs' peak was though, he was phenomenal in his day

Pretty close I'd say

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

Bale is better in his prime, however he relies on pure power & pace. As soon as these two aspect are gone, he's never the same player.

However, Giggs is overall better. Longevity & his mentality are insane, assist machine as well. Giggs is more technical in his playing style (even though he looks like pace merchant when he was young).

Giggs is greater to me.

 

[edcunited1878]

Bale had his peak as a second striker at Tottenham before being a winger at Madrid whose pace was unfair to La Liga for 3 years tops. So Bale had a good 5 year spell when he was a top top player. However, Giggs was the better player given he too could play through the middle as a forward as he did in his earlier years, then played wide and while he wasn't as powerful a runner as Bale, his dribbling and use of ball while sprinting is better than Bale. Giggs then was able to play center mid and out wide on occasion during in his 30s when his pace wasn't as good...but he was still able to dribble past players almost half his age.

Bale was a top player in his pomp, about half a decade. Giggs was one of the best players of his generation that sustained decades.

 

[Pow]

Bale had his peak as a second striker at Tottenham before being a winger at Madrid whose pace was unfair to La Liga for 3 years tops. So Bale had a good 5 year spell when he was a top top player. However, Giggs was the better player given he too could play through the middle as a forward as he did in his earlier years, then played wide and while he wasn't as powerful a runner as Bale, his dribbling and use of ball while sprinting is better than Bale. Giggs then was able to play center mid and out wide on occasion during in his 30s when his pace wasn't as good...but he was still able to dribble past players almost half his age.

Bale was a top player in his pomp, about half a decade. Giggs was one of the best players of his generation that sustained decades.

Well he wasnt one of the best players in the world for decades really was he.
He was good for a long time. Dont think his peak was as high as bales and he definitely couldnt carry a team like bale did for wales.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

I didn't catch enough of Giggs from his younger days but based on gut/what I've seen and read, I'd go for him. He's technically exceptional and can play in any team and system. Also, predictably this will become about end product and Bale plays at a time when wide forwards are star men who are often the main goalscorers of the team. The game and it's tactics have moved in that direction. Giggs on the other hand played much of his career when a winger had to dominate his flank, defend well, carry the attack forward and provide service for his team mates, as opposed to being a focal point for usually goals and sometimes assist. Had Giggs come about now he'd be a wide forward without a doubt. And I bet he'd be a much more goalscoring one.

Also, you can't discount longevity. Let's see Bale produce masterclasses in PL title wins at the age of 33-38.

 

[Pow]

I didn't catch enough of Giggs from his younger days but based on gut/what I've seen and read, I'd go for him. He's technically exceptional and can play in any team and system. Also, predictably this will become about end product and Bale plays at a time when wide forwards are star men who are often the main goalscorers of the team. The game and it's tactics have moved in that direction. Giggs on the other hand played much of his career when a winger had to dominate his flank, defend well, carry the attack forward and provide service for his team mates, as opposed to being a focal point for usually goals and sometimes assist. Had Giggs come about now he'd be a wide forward without a doubt. And I bet he'd be a much more goalscoring one.

Also, you can't discount longevity. Let's see Bale produce masterclasses in PL title wins at the age of 33-38.

I could just as easily flip that and say where are giggs multiple winners in cl finals or the ability to take an average welsh team to the euros semi final, heck did giggs ever qualify ?

 

[amolbhatia50k]

I could just as easily flip that and say where are giggs multiple winners in cl finals or the ability to take an average welsh team to the euros semi final, heck did giggs ever qualify ?

Sure, that's how a case is made for each player. Because everyone has their strong aspects. But in terms of trophies I don't believe there's a real comparison to make. Give me two decades of Pl dominance, 13 league titles and being a club legend, anyday over 2 additional CLs while being a mixture of great and a misfit at Madrid.

Bale did better with Wales without a doubt. Did Giggs have as good a team as Bale did? As Wales are quite a strong team these days or in the recent past.

 

[SAFMUTD]

It depends on what we are focusing, better player at their best or best career?

at their best there’s no argument Bale by a mile, Giggs never reached those heights. Now if we are talking career wise then its a different story, Giggs had tremendous consistency and was an important player until his last days, Bale has declined massively.

If I had to choose, I’ll choose Giggs career all day long. There’s a reason why he’s a legend here meanwhile Bale has a love/hate relationship with Madrid.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

It depends on what we are focusing, better player at their best or best career?

at their best there’s no argument Bale by a mile, Giggs never reached those heights. Now if we are talking career wise then its a different story, Giggs had tremendous consistency and was an important player until his last days, Bale has declined massively.

If I had to choose, I’ll choose Giggs career all day long. There’s a reason why he’s a legend here meanwhile Bale has a love/hate relationship with Madrid.

Has to be a combination of the two, as always.