'I played with Ryan Giggs and Gareth Bale - one was great but the other was a level above'

The argument over who should be regarded as the greatest Welsh footballer in history will probably rumble on forever. But for Rob Earnshaw, the matter is settled beyond doubt.

The former Wales striker speaks with rare authority - after all, he shared the field with both of the main candidates: Ryan Giggs and Gareth Bale. Having seen them closely, Earnshaw had a front-row seat to their brilliance. And to him, one of them stands a notch - perhaps two - above the other.

"I've got to say, Gareth Bale is the best Welsh player ever," the 44-year-old told Wales Online. "For a long time, I was split because I played with Ryan Giggs too. Giggs was always legendary, always a great player for Wales, for Manchester United, great player.

"It was always difficult for years to split them. But as Gareth Bale continued and continued to develop, there were two or three points where I had to turn around and I had to look at him and almost like be like, 'Wow, he's actually gone to a different level.' And there was one point where he went to world class level... he was unstoppable."

Only a handful of Welsh footballers have reached the international fame achieved by Giggs and Bale, two figures who came to define distinct periods of modern football. Both were extraordinary talents, blessed with speed, skill and balance, yet their professional journeys took very different directions.

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Giggs became synonymous with Manchester United's dominance under Sir Alex Ferguson, while Bale carved out his reputation overseas, turning into one of Real Madrid's great European heroes.

Giggs emerged as the crown jewel of 'Fergie's Fledglings,' the young United side that ruled English football in the 1990s. A natural left-winger, he lifted 13 Premier League titles, four FA Cups and two Champions League trophies, establishing himself as the face of United's golden generation.

Bale's story followed a different path: beginning as a left-back at Southampton and Tottenham, he later evolved into a lethal winger. His explosive displays - notably his iconic hat-trick against Inter Milan in the Champions League - marked his arrival among Europe's elite attackers.

Giggs' domestic achievements remain unrivalled among Welsh players, his endurance and success at club level unmatched. Yet Bale's career soared even higher after his record-breaking transfer to Real Madrid in 2013.

At Madrid, he collected five Champions League titles, three La Liga crowns and delivered unforgettable goals in major finals, earning a reputation as a man for the biggest moments. Where Giggs symbolised sustained excellence at home, Bale became a global superstar who thrived on football's grandest stages.

For Wales, Bale's influence was revolutionary. While Giggs' international run never quite reached its potential, Bale led his country to its first major tournament in nearly six decades and on to the Euro 2016 semi-finals. His goals, drive and passion made him the beating heart of Wales' footballing resurgence, while Giggs struggled to leave a lasting mark at international level.

In the end, Giggs and Bale represent two distinct versions of greatness: Giggs, the ever-reliable domestic champion - Bale, the global icon who lifted Wales to new heights. Both are giants of Welsh sport - but whereas Giggs shaped an era in England, Bale made the entire world notice Wales.

"He was a special, special player," Earnshaw added. "I've got to regard him as the best Welsh player ever because he's gone and done it. He's gone and taken us to big championships, European championships multiple times.

"He's gone and taken us to a World Cup. He was a big factor because if he's not there, I don't think everybody else believes as much. It's different when you have a world superstar in your squad that continues to deliver and you just get wowed by it."

Earnshaw won 59 caps for Wales, scoring 16 goals. The former Cardiff City forward - who also represented West Brom, Nottingham Forest and Norwich - never appeared for his country at a major finals, retiring from international duty in 2012, four years before Wales' famous return to tournament football.