As 'Viva Gareth Bale' reverberated around a capacity Cardiff City Stadium, you could sense the great man himself start to choke up.
When Bale finally got to speak, and called Wales' fans 'the best in the world', it wasn't the usual platitudes you get from footballers. Bale meant it, such is the love, warmth and affection he has been afforded from the Red Wall over a stellar 17-year career that may have ended under a cloud with Real Madrid, but has always seen him staunchly backed and feted as an idol in his homeland.
Even when he wasn't playing, Bale was still the headline act as he said farewell to the supporters ahead of Kieffer Moore bagging the winner over Latvia, which gave Wales a four points out of six start to their Euro 2024 campaign that Rob Page and his team will be chuffed with.
