The Liverpool striker netted the clincher in the 33rd minute, doing superbly to pick up a Xavi through-ball, skip past the challenge of Philipp Lahm before dinking his shot over Jens Lehmann and into the far corner of the net.

Torres had earlier seen a header hit the post as dominant Spain finally banished their reputation of underachieving on the big stage by winning their first major trophy since Euro 1964.