The 26-year-old was at his supreme best as Chris Coleman's Dragons booked their place in the knock-out stages of Euro 2016 in emphatic fashion.

The Real Madrid star rounded off the scoring after Aaron Ramsey and Neil Taylor had put Wales in firm control of proceedings.

His third goal of the tournament put him top of the chase for the Golden Boot, but his performance was about so much more than just a goal.

Every time he got the ball and drove forward he simply terrified the Russian defence. Centre-halves Sergey Ignashevich and Vasili Berezutski will have nightmares about their ordeal as their collective age of 70 was viciously exposed.

Yet, Bale also had plenty of support. Arsenal and Liverpool midfielders Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen bossed the midfield exchanges, while Ashley Williams, James Chester and Ben Davies were resolute and assured at the back.

It was a complete team performance, and one that Bale will gladly put alongside winning two Champions League titles as one of his greatest days.

"It is hard to describe, it was an unbelievable occasion. It is right up there with anything I have done," said the ‘Galactico'.

"Given the pressure of the game that was one of the best team performances I have ever been a part of.

"I don't think I have had a better night in a Wales shirt.

"We have had some amazing nights over the last few years but that was really incredible. To top the group is an even better feeling and it is one we want to keep having."

England's failure to beat Slovakia means Wales have given themselves the best possible chance of going deep into this tournament.

Winning Group B sends them into a last-16 tie against one of the best third-placed teams in Paris on Saturday.

And Bale wants Wales to capitalise on the opportunity they have created for themselves.

He said: "Finishing top definitely gives us the best chance of going a long way.

"There are no easy games but this might give us a slightly easier game.

"It is good for us and we want to concentrate on ourselves and getting it right for the next game."

Whoever Wales end up facing at the Parc des Princes, they are unlikely to be relishing the prospect of facing Bale at the very peak of his powers.

And defender Chester believe Wales are operating with the tournament's best player among their ranks.

"We know if the knock-out stages that guys like Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale are going to be big assets, they can wins games on their own," said the West Brom man.

"I'm not sure there's a better player individually than Gareth in the tournament.

"We know how fortunate we are to have him in our team and if we can keep clean sheets then we know we give ourselves a real good chance

"I can't speak for any of the other top players in the tournament – I don't know them – but Gareth is very passionate about playing for the national team.

"He turns up pretty much every time we have a game, which some of the top players maybe don't do. He is a superstar but still one of the lads."