Nicklas Bendtner

Real Madrid superstar player Gareth Bale is set to make a UEFA Champions League record if the current title holders make true their dream of lifting the title for the 12th time next year.

Real Madrid won their landmark tenth Champions League title under Carlo Ancellotti in 2014, defeating rivals Atletico in the finals. The next year, Barcelona lifted the title but the final of the previous year replayed itself when Real Madrid took on the same rivals this year. Ronaldo scored the last kick, winning the title for a record eleventh time.

Real Madrid hope to retain their title with the draws underway this week. However, if Madrid can retain the title, Gareth Bale would make a record of being just the sixth player in the history of the prestigious tournament to win the title in his hometown. The 2016/17 final is set for Cardiff – Bale’s hometown. The last player to attain such feat is former French international Nicholas Anelka. Anelka was with Los Bloncos back in 2000, and he joined the league of players to win it in their hometown as Madrid defeated Valencia 3-0 in Paris’ Stade de France. The former Chelsea player hailed from Versailles, the host of the final.

The others in this exclusive list of players are Enrique Mateos who was born in Madrid. He was in action for Real Madrid when they thrashed Fiorentina 2-0 in 1957 at the Santiago Bernabeu. Miguel Munoz was in the team, making the second person. Alex Stepney was born in Mitcham, playing for the Red Devils in 1968; he lifted the title at Wembley. The fourth is Angelo di Livio who joined in 1996. He played for Juventus, who defeated Ajax in a penalty shootout in the game played in Stadio Olimpico. Other players have tried to break into this list but have failed. Rio Ferdinand, Chris Smalling, Thierry Henry and others.