• Claimed the first league title of his career, at the age of 30, as he helped Real Madrid CF to victory in the Spanish Liga, making 36 appearances – all but one in the starting XI – and repeatedly proving his class as the team's central midfield fulcrum.

• Took his excellent club form to UEFA EURO 2012, his fifth major international tournament, where he started every game as Spain retained the trophy; his highlight came in the quarter-final against France, when he marked the occasion of his 100th cap by scoring both goals in a 2-0 win.

• Completed the set of domestic trophies in Spain as Madrid defeated FC Barcelona on away goals in the Spanish Super Cup.