<p>The shy, pale lad from Fuentealbilla near Albacete stirred memories of his stunning Champions League effort at Chelsea in the 2008/09 season when he controlled a Cesc Fabregas pass and drove the ball past Netherlands keeper Maarten Stekelenburg. <br /><br />It was the only goal in a crushingly tense final. Taking off his shirt, as he did at Stamford Bridge, the 26-year-old raced to the corner flag where he was engulfed by team-mates already wildly celebrating in the knowledge that Spain's hour on soccer's biggest stage had finally come. <br /><br />“It's unbelievable, incredible,” an emotional Iniesta said in a pitchside interview at Soccer City moments before Spain captain Iker Casillas hoisted the gilded trophy. <br />“It took a lot of energy,” added the midfielder. “To win a World Cup is an indescribable feeling. <br /><br />“This was our work that we started a long time ago, it was hard work but we're savouring this now.” <br /><br />Iniesta said his goal was for his family and Espanyol captain Dani Jarque, who collapsed and died aged 26 on a pre-season tour of Italy in August 2009. <br /><br />“I wanted to carry Dani with me,” Iniesta told a news conference after picking up his man of the match award. <br /><br />“We wanted to pay tribute to him and we thought it was the best opportunity to do so,” he added before team-mates Cesc Fabregas, Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol, beers in hand, burst into the room chanting ‘Spain! Spain!’ <br /><br />A product of Barcelona's youth academy, Iniesta joined the Catalan club at the age of 12, breaking into the first team in October 2002 and quickly making a name for himself as a hugely skilful and creative attacking midfielder. <br /><br />He made his debut for Spain in May 2006 in a 0-0 draw against Russia in Albacete and his goal on Sunday was his eighth in his 49th appearance. <br /><br />After a difficult season plagued with niggling injuries, during which he scored only one league goal, he has come good in South Africa, having also scored against Chile in the 2-1 Group H victory in Pretoria. <br /><br />Spain's Prince Felipe, who was at the match with his wife Princess Letizia and mother Queen Sofia, said: “This goal was a godsend. Iniesta has lifted us to glory.”</p>
<p>The shy, pale lad from Fuentealbilla near Albacete stirred memories of his stunning Champions League effort at Chelsea in the 2008/09 season when he controlled a Cesc Fabregas pass and drove the ball past Netherlands keeper Maarten Stekelenburg. <br /><br />It was the only goal in a crushingly tense final. Taking off his shirt, as he did at Stamford Bridge, the 26-year-old raced to the corner flag where he was engulfed by team-mates already wildly celebrating in the knowledge that Spain's hour on soccer's biggest stage had finally come. <br /><br />“It's unbelievable, incredible,” an emotional Iniesta said in a pitchside interview at Soccer City moments before Spain captain Iker Casillas hoisted the gilded trophy. <br />“It took a lot of energy,” added the midfielder. “To win a World Cup is an indescribable feeling. <br /><br />“This was our work that we started a long time ago, it was hard work but we're savouring this now.” <br /><br />Iniesta said his goal was for his family and Espanyol captain Dani Jarque, who collapsed and died aged 26 on a pre-season tour of Italy in August 2009. <br /><br />“I wanted to carry Dani with me,” Iniesta told a news conference after picking up his man of the match award. <br /><br />“We wanted to pay tribute to him and we thought it was the best opportunity to do so,” he added before team-mates Cesc Fabregas, Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol, beers in hand, burst into the room chanting ‘Spain! Spain!’ <br /><br />A product of Barcelona's youth academy, Iniesta joined the Catalan club at the age of 12, breaking into the first team in October 2002 and quickly making a name for himself as a hugely skilful and creative attacking midfielder. <br /><br />He made his debut for Spain in May 2006 in a 0-0 draw against Russia in Albacete and his goal on Sunday was his eighth in his 49th appearance. <br /><br />After a difficult season plagued with niggling injuries, during which he scored only one league goal, he has come good in South Africa, having also scored against Chile in the 2-1 Group H victory in Pretoria. <br /><br />Spain's Prince Felipe, who was at the match with his wife Princess Letizia and mother Queen Sofia, said: “This goal was a godsend. Iniesta has lifted us to glory.”</p>
