UEFA honours
UEFA European Championship: winner 2008, 2012

• Scored four goals in Villarreal's run to the UEFA Cup quarter-finals in 2004/05 but made just two appearances in the following season's UEFA Champions League as the Yellow Submarine reached the last four.

• Sold to RC Recreativo de Huelva in 2006/07 with a clause in his contract for a possible return; proved to be a major factor in taking the Andalusian club to an unexpected eighth-place finish in the Liga.

• Returned to Villarreal in 2007/08, scoring five goals in 36 matches to help the club finish second − their highest placing − and winning an unexpected place in Spain's UEFA EURO 2008 squad; following his debut in a pre-tournament friendly against Peru, he appeared as a substitute in five matches, including the final, as Spain captured the European title.

• Celebrated his 50th European appearance with a goal as Villarreal defeated Bayer 04 Leverkusen 2-1 at El Madrigal in the 2010/11 UEFA Europa League round of 16 second leg; doubled his tally of international goals to four by scoring twice against the United States on 4 June 2011.

• Moved in a club record €22m switch to Málaga a few weeks later and was ever-present (nine goals) as the Andalusians qualified for the UEFA Champions League; made two brief substitute appearances in Poland and Ukraine, earning an assist, as Spain retained their European title.