WORLD CUP 2010: Andres Iniesta pays tribute to tragic Daniel Jarque after firing Spain to victory
Andres Iniesta dedicated his winning goal in the World Cup final to former Espanyol player Daniel Jarque, who died of a heart attack last year.
Jarque was a friend and former Spain Under 21 team-mate of Iniesta and his sudden death at the age of 26 rocked football last summer.
Iniesta slammed home the only goal of the game as Spain beat Holland in Johannesburg and the Barcelona midfielder immediately wheeled away and revealed a t-shirt with the message Dani Jarque: Siempre con nosotros'.
Tribute: Spain hero Iniesta displays his message in memory of his friend Jarque
The translation is 'always with us' and Iniesta said: 'I wanted to carry Dani with me and with my other team-mates. We wanted to feel his strength. We wanted to pay tribute to him - and this was the best opportunity to do so.
'This is for Dani, for my family, for all of the people. It is the result of hard work over a long time and some difficult moments.'
Iniesta, who was booked for his celebration, also gestured to the heavens as he returned to the pitch.
Breakthrough: Iniesta rattles in Spain's winner with just a few minutes left
Most watched Sport videos
- Nike unveils 2024 Olympic uniforms ahead of Paris games
- Kate Abdo breaks down in tears reminiscing about her late father
- NRL star Kevin Walters talking about his wife dying of cancer
- Scheffler overwhelmed with gratitude after second Masters title win
- Olympic torch is lit ahead of Paris Olympics
- Amazon release '99' trailer, documenting Man United's treble
- TikTok star Davis Clarke soils himself during the Boston Marathon
- James McClean salutes Wrexham fans singing an anti-King chant
- Barcelona fans go head to head with police ahead of quarter finals
- Ryan Garcia proposing to Aussie porn star Savannah Bond
- Ryan Garcia SHOVED by Devin Haney on Empire State building
- Football Pundit Eli Aluko speaks on 'Institutional racism'