Bale has the X-factor and deserves to win the Ballon d'Or – Southall

The ex-Wales goalkeeper sees the Real Madrid superstar being recognised as the world's best in the future, once he has mirrored Messi and Ronaldo's consistency

Gareth Bale is among the candidates for the 2016 Ballon d’Or, and while the general consensus is that the top prize will head elsewhere, former Wales international Neville Southall believes it is only a matter of time before the Real Madrid forward is recognised as the world’s best.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s efforts for club and country make him a clear favourite this time around, with Champions League success with Real Madrid complemented by a Euro 2016 triumph with Portugal.

Eternal rival Lionel Messi is also a serious contender, having starred again for Barcelona, while his Camp Nou colleague Luis Suarez has enjoyed a memorable year and cemented his standing as the world’s premier ‘number nine’.

Bale’s time will come, though, of that there is little doubt.

He has become an integral part of Real’s present and future – having committed to a new six-year contract – and remains a talismanic presence for Wales with few equals.

At 27 years of age he is very much part of the global elite, with countryman Southall admitting that he has developed that match-altering X-factor which separates the cream of the crop from mere mortals.

He told  Goal : “I think he’s right up there. Gareth is one of those players that you can look at and go: ‘Has he been fantastic for 90 minutes? No, but he’s scored three goals’. You can analyse him as much as you want, but he’s got something that you just can’t buy. He’s got that extra bit about him that you can’t put a price on. He just does something that can change a whole game.

“At the moment, when I look at him and think he’s not doing so well, then it doesn’t matter. If he’s having a great game then that’s a bonus, but his work rate and effort are fantastic, his attitude is brilliant and he’s got that something with an X in it that money can’t buy. That’s brilliant for Wales and it’s brilliant for Real Madrid.

“You are getting the X-factor with him – he’s certainly got that. Messi, Ronaldo, they have all got it and Gareth is one of the world’s best players. I think if you give him another three years, he will be on a par with Messi and Ronaldo.

“At the moment, between him and them is the length of time they have played and the consistency they have shown. Gareth can only show that consistency over a period of time. He can do it on a daily basis, but they have done it for longer so therefore, in my eyes, that makes them better players at the moment.”

Messi is a five-time World Player of the Year, while Ronaldo has taken that award on three previous occasions.

They continue to set the standard at present, but Southall is convinced that a man he already considers to be the finest in Welsh football history will soon join them on the global roll of honour – while also cementing his status as one of Real’s all-time greats.

“He deserves it,” added the goalkeeper, who has 92 caps to his name.

“You don’t want Gareth Bale to be a one or two-season wonder, you want him to be like Messi and Ronaldo and people who have proved themselves over a number of years. He’s good enough to do whatever he wants to do.

“He has taken Wales to a major competition and the one we’re in now, he might have to pull something out of the hat for us again. But he’s quite capable of doing that. He’s one of those where you can be drawing 0-0 or be 2-0 down and he can change a game. There are not many players that you can say that about.

“He keeps producing, and that’s the consistency he needs. If he keeps producing every single week then he will be up there with Messi and Ronaldo - that’s why they are special.

“If he can do that for the next 5-10 years, he’s already the best that Wales have ever had, then he might become one of the best that Real Madrid have ever had.”