A time will come when Gareth Bale no longer feels the hunger or desire to put his body through the rigours of competitive football, to take the constant batterings and to feel the burn of professional sport. Talk to those in Madrid, where he remains maligned and marginalised, and they will tell you that day has already arrived.

To these detractors there is only one response: look at Bale when he represents Wales. Look at the joy with which he plays football, and the ferocity with which he runs and chases his opponents. Above all, look at the sheer quality of his left foot, one of the best of his or any generation, and the ongoing brilliance of his performances for his national team.

In Bale’s footballing life there have been countless moments of class and skill, but this night will no doubt rank high among his finest as a footballer. On an enormous occasion for Wales, a play-off semi-final against Austria that could ultimately lead to their first World Cup since 1958, he produced one of his most thrilling showings yet.

Bale’s two goals, the first an extraordinary free-kick, put Wales within 90 minutes of a place in Qatar. A play-off final awaits, against Scotland or Ukraine later this year, and with a player of his calibre on this form there is no reason to question whether Wales can make it.

Not even the scheming passes and late pressure of this Austria team, who scored through Marcel Sabitzer, could dampen the mood in the second half in Cardiff, where the home supporters were as delirious as ever at the sight of their captain’s latest match-winning interventions.

There is no need to guess how this latest Bale masterclass for Wales will be received in Spain. He was unavailable for Real Madrid’s match against Barcelona last weekend, due to an unspecified “niggle”, and here he played more minutes in one game than he has in the last four months for his club.

“When you have somebody like Gareth, even at 60 or 70 per cent fit, he is going to play,” said manager Rob Page. “Because you know he can win games for you.”

Asked if he was sending a message with his celebrations, which involved plenty of thumping of the Wales badge on his chest, Bale said: “I don’t need to send a message, it’s a waste of my time. It’s disgusting, they should be ashamed of themselves.”

Presumably he was referring to his numerous critics in Spain (he had been described as a “parasite” in the Spanish press), who might well have been regretting their constant sniping when Bale unleashed his astonishing free-kick for the opening goal. How needlessly silly it is that this wonderful footballer has not been given more opportunities to score more goals like this for his club.

Truly this was one of Bale’s best ever strikes, with the ball spinning high into the air before dipping viciously into the top corner. It even grazed the underside of the crossbar on the way in, just for added aesthetic effect. “I can hit a free-kick if I am able to play,” he said, pointedly.

Ronaldo’s former teammate at Real Madrid, Gareth Bale, could also be at the World Cup after inspiring Wales to a 2-1 win over Austria and leaving his country one victory away from a first appearance at the tournament since 1958.

Bale scored both of Wales’ goals at Cardiff City Stadium, a sensational free kick into the top corner in the 25th and a powerful shot on the turn in the 51st.

His record goal tally for Wales moved to 38 and he continues to deliver inspirational performances for his country, at a time when his club career has stagnated in his ninth season at Madrid.

Wales will host either Scotland or Ukraine in the playoff final in June. Their semifinal match was postponed until that month as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.