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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Katie Sands

The beautiful moment Gareth Bale celebrated with his kids after Wales' World Cup play-off victory

Wales' football heroes celebrated with unrivalled passion as they booked their place at this year's World Cup after a 64-year absence.

The embraces with fellow team-mates, staff and fans were heartfelt and something to behold, before Wales' stars partied into the night with fans at Gareth Bale's Cardiff city centre bar.

But before all of that, time was set aside to celebrate with those who see the players at their highest of highs and lowest of lows: family.

Aaron Ramsey enjoyed a pitchside family embrace amid the madness, while Wales captain Bale - whose decisive free-kick (albeit deflected into the goal) proved the difference against Ukraine on Sunday night - welcomed his children onto the field to take in the once-in-a-lifetime achievement.

Cardiff native Bale, 32, and his wife Emma have four children together: daughters Alba Violet, born in 2012, Nava Valentina, born in 2016, and sons Axel Charles, born in May 2018, and Xander Frank, who will turn one in July.

The now ex-Real Madrid striker was pictured welcoming three of his children onto the Cardiff City Stadium turf, joking with son Axel before wrapping him up in a coat. He could also be seen carrying 11-month-old son Xander as he carried on the festivities.

Wales' Gareth Bale (centre) with his children (David Davies/PA Wire)
Wales' Gareth Bale (centre) with his children (David Davies/PA Wire)
Gareth Bale of Wales carries one of his children (Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
Gareth Bale of Wales celebrates with family after the victory over Ukraine (Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Wales' Gareth Bale with his children after the World Cup play-off win against Ukraine (Ian Cook - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Wales' Gareth Bale puts a coat on one of his children (David Davies/PA Wire)
Gareth Bale of Wales carries his son (Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

While we all know him as the football superstar, having led his country at Euro 2020, Wales football fans first got a glimpse of Bale the family man during Euro 2016. As the Wales squad celebrated victory over Northern Ireland in Paris in the brilliant summer of 2016, Bale emerged onto the pitch with his daughter Alba Violet, then aged three. The Wales star carried her in his arms, chased her around the pitch, and held her aloft in front of Wales' delighted fans in the immediate aftermath of a historic night.

Wales will be hoping for more reasons to celebrate when they head to Qatar for this winter's World Cup, which is Wales' first appearance at the tournament since 1958.

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