UEFA honours
UEFA European Championship: winner 2008, 2012
UEFA EURO 2012: Team of the Tournament
UEFA European Under-19 Championship: winner 2004

• A native Canary Islander, he was scouted by Valencia and moved to the Spanish mainland with his family at the age of 15; played for the club's B team and had loan spells at SD Eibar and RC Celta de Vigo before being recalled to replace Pablo Aimar at Valencia for the 2006/07 season.

• Played in Spain's 2004 UEFA European Under-19 Championship-winning team and also at the following year's FIFA U-20 World Cup, scoring four goals, and was capped at senior level for the first time in November 2006, in a friendly against Romania.

• Landed his first major trophy as Valencia rescued a disappointing 2007/08 season by winning the Copa del Rey, before hitting the jackpot for Spain at his first major tournament, starting five matches at UEFA EURO 2008 and scoring one goal − in the semi-final − as La Roja took the trophy.

• Scored three goals in qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup but was dropped after the opening defeat at the finals by Switzerland and made just one further appearance – late on in the semi-final against Germany; re-emerged with four goals en route to UEFA EURO 2012, including a double versus Scotland.

• Scored 21 goals in 119 Liga appearances for Valencia before joining Manchester City in July 2010; made a relatively slow start in England before bursting into life with an FA Cup win and a succession of outstanding days in the 2011/12 Premier League campaign as the Citizens dramatically pipped Manchester United FC to the title.

• Started every game in Poland and Ukraine as Spain retained their UEFA European Championship crown, making three assists and scoring twice – including the opening goal in the 4-0 final defeat of Italy.