Iniesta, his ghostly pale face shining on the dark South African night, blasted a shot across Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg with four minutes of extra-time left to seal Spain's first World Cup triumph.

Iniesta, one of the creative midfielders who inspires Spain's attack, arrived in South Africa struggling from an injury-plagued season. But he proved to be one of the keys to victory as his second goal of the tournament delivered Spain from a challenging game of few chances.