Jordi Alba came into the European Championship as the only player in Spain's 23-man squad without a single trophy to his name but now the marauding left-back has surely won the first of many.
The 23-year-old only became a first team regular at this tournament, with six of his 11 caps coming during the last month in Poland and Ukraine climaxing with a super goal in the 4-0 thumping of Italy in the final on Sunday.
"These Euros have been an incredible dream come true for me. It was my first Euros - the other guys had already been making history" with their successes at the last World Cup and at Euro 2008.
"Now it's my turn and I can do the same alongside them. I still can't believe it - it will sink in eventually," said Alba, who last week finalised a 14 million euros move to Barcelona.
Spanish defender Jordi Alba celebrates after scoring a goal during the Euro 2012 football championships final match Spain vs Italy on July 1, 2012 at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev. AFP PHOTO / JEFF PACHOUD
