page:  = Fernando Torres = 
   
   Fernando José Torres Sanz ( Spanish pronunciation : [ ferˈnando ˈtores ] ; born 20 March 1984 ) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a striker for La Liga club Atlético Madrid . 
   Torres started his career with Atlético Madrid , progressing through their youth system to the first team squad . He made his first team debut in 2001 and finished his time at the club having scored 75 goals in 174 La Liga appearances . Prior to his La Liga debut , Torres played two seasons in the Segunda División for Atlético Madrid , making 40 appearances and scoring seven goals . 
   Torres joined Premier League club Liverpool in 2007 , after signing for a club record transfer fee . He marked his first season at Anfield by being Liverpool 's first player since Robbie Fowler in the 1995 – 96 season to score more than 20 league goals in a season . The most prolific goalscoring spell of his career , he became the fastest player in Liverpool history to score 50 league goals . He was named in the FIFA World XI in 2008 and 2009 . Torres left the club in January 2011 to join Chelsea for a British record transfer fee of £ 50 million , which made him the most expensive Spanish player in history . In his first full season at Chelsea , Torres won the FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League , despite receiving criticism for a comparatively low goal @-@ scoring record . The following season he scored in the final of the 2012 – 13 UEFA Europa League , helping Chelsea to win the competition for the first time . 
   Torres is a Spanish international and made his debut against Portugal in 2003 . He has been capped over 100 times and is his country 's third @-@ highest goalscorer of all time . With Spain he has participated in six major tournaments ; UEFA Euro 2004 , the 2006 FIFA World Cup , UEFA Euro 2008 , the 2010 FIFA World Cup , UEFA Euro 2012 and the 2014 FIFA World Cup . Spain won the three tournaments from 2008 to 2012 , with Torres scoring in the finals of both Euro 2008 and Euro 2012 . 
   
   = = Early career = = 
   
   Born in Fuenlabrada , Community of Madrid , Torres became interested in football as a child and joined his first team , Parque 84 , at the age of five . His father José Torres worked during Torres ' childhood , and his mother Flori Sanz travelled daily with him to training sessions . His grandfather was not a passionate football fan , but took pride in being an Atlético Madrid supporter , and Torres inherited his love for the club . 
   Torres started playing football as a goalkeeper , the position his brother played in . When he was seven years old , however , he started playing regularly as a striker in an indoor league for the neighbourhood club , Mario 's Holland , using the characters from the anime Captain Tsubasa as inspiration . Three years later , aged 10 , he progressed to an 11 @-@ side team , Rayo 13 . He scored 55 goals in a season and was one of three Rayo 13 players to earn a trial with Atlético . He impressed the scouts and joined the club 's youth system at the age of 11 in 1995 . 
   
   = = Club career = = 
   
   
   = = = Atlético Madrid = = = 
   
   After progressing through the ranks , Torres won his first important youth title in 1998 . Atlético sent an under @-@ 15 team to compete in the Nike Cup , in Spain and Europe , to play against youth teams from other clubs ; Atlético won the tournament . He was later voted the best player in Europe for the age group . In 1999 , at the age of 15 , Torres signed his first professional contract with Atlético . He spent his first year playing in the youth team and participated in the Honor Division when he was 16 . The 2000 – 01 season had started badly , as Torres suffered from a cracked shinbone which kept him out until December . Torres trained with the first team to get prepared for pre @-@ season , but eventually made his debut for the team on 27 May 2001 , at the Vicente Calderón Stadium , against CD Leganés . A week later , he scored his first goal for the club against Albacete Balompié and the season finished with Atlético narrowly missing out on promotion to La Liga . 
   Atlético were promoted to La Liga at the end of the 2001 – 02 season , although Torres did not perform well in the season , as he netted only 6 times in 36 appearances in the Segunda División . Torres ' first season in La Liga , 2002 – 03 , was better , however , as he scored 13 goals in 29 appearances , with Atlético finishing in 11th place . In July 2003 , soon after his takeover of the club , Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich had a £ 28 million bid for Torres rejected by Atlético 's board . In the 2003 – 04 season , his second in La Liga , Torres made further strides , scoring 19 league goals in 35 appearances , meaning he finished as joint third highest scorer in the league . At the age of 19 , Torres was named Atlético 's captain . Atlético narrowly missed out on qualification for the UEFA Cup , but by finishing in seventh place in the 2003 – 04 season , they qualified for the 2004 UEFA Intertoto Cup , giving Torres a first taste of a competition at the European level . He scored two goals in the two fourth round matches against OFK Beograd , with one coming in each leg . Atlético reached the Final , but lost 3 – 1 on a penalty shoot @-@ out to Villarreal CF following a 2 – 2 draw on aggregate . FA Premier League champions Chelsea were believed to be interested in signing Torres during the summer of 2005 , but Atlético president Enrique Cerezo said that they had " no chance " of signing him . Cerezo later said in January 2006 that the club was willing to listen to offers for Torres , and Torres claimed Newcastle United of the FA Premier League had made a bid to sign him in March . 
   He stated after the 2006 FIFA World Cup that he had turned down an offer to join Chelsea at the end of the 2005 – 06 season . Torres scored 14 league goals in the 2006 – 07 season . The English media reported that he was the main transfer target of Premier League Liverpool , but Cerezo stated " We 've received no offer from Liverpool or any other club or player " . However , a few days later , new reports suggested Atlético had agreed a deal with Liverpool for Torres ; the fee was rumoured to be £ 25 million with Luis García moving to Atlético in a separate transfer deal . On 30 June , Atlético announced a deal to sign Diego Forlán from Villarreal , in what was seen as a move to replace Torres before his departure became official . On 2 July , it was reported that Torres had cut short a vacation to fly back to Madrid to finalise the move to Liverpool . The following day , Torres passed a medical at Liverpool 's Melwood training ground . He held a press conference in Madrid on 4 July to bid farewell to the Atlético fans , before completing his move to Liverpool on a six @-@ year contract . The transfer fee was the highest in Liverpool 's history . In March 2008 , manager Rafael Benítez stated in an interview with The Times that Torres was acquired for around £ 20 million , although this figure takes into account García 's move to Atlético . 
   
   = = = Liverpool = = = 
   
   
   = = = = 2007 – 08 season = = = = 
   
   Torres made his competitive debut for Liverpool against Aston Villa in a 2 – 1 win on 11 August 2007 . He made his first appearance in the UEFA Champions League four days past his first performance in a 1 – 0 victory over Toulouse , after coming on as a 79th minute substitute . His first Premier League goal came on his Anfield debut on 19 August 2007 , in the 16th minute in a 1 – 1 draw against Chelsea . His first hat @-@ trick came in a 4 – 2 victory over Reading in the League Cup on 25 September 2007 , with all of his goals coming in the second half . His first goals in the Champions League came on his third appearance in the competition as Liverpool beat Porto 4 – 1 on 28 November 2007 , as he scored twice . 
   Torres was named the Premier League Player of the Month for February 2008 , during which he scored four goals in four appearances , including a hat @-@ trick against Middlesbrough on 23 February 2008 . This hat @-@ trick and another in a 4 – 0 victory over West Ham United on 5 March 2008 meant he became the first Liverpool player since Jack Balmer in November 1946 to score a hat @-@ trick in successive home matches . Later in March , after he scored a 47th @-@ minute header against Reading at Anfield , becoming the first Liverpool player since Robbie Fowler in the 1995 – 96 season to score 20 league goals in a season . In April , he scored another Champions League goal , this time against Arsenal in the quarter @-@ final second leg , as Liverpool advanced to the semi @-@ final . This goal took him onto 29 goals for the 2007 – 08 season in all competitions , eclipsing Michael Owen 's personal record for goals in a season . On 11 April 2008 , it was announced Torres had made a six @-@ man shortlist for the PFA Players ' Player of the Year award , which was eventually won by Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United . The Spanish international was also nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year Award , which was won by Cesc Fàbregas of Arsenal and was named in the PFA Team of the Year . In May , he finished second to Ronaldo for the FWA Footballer of the Year award . 
   On 4 May 2008 , Torres scored a 57th @-@ minute winner against Manchester City , which equalled the consecutive Anfield league goal record of eight games set by Roger Hunt . After scoring his 24th league goal in the final game of the season , a 2 – 0 win against Tottenham Hotspur , he set a new record for the most prolific foreign goal scorer in a debut season in England , eclipsing Ruud van Nistelrooy 's 23 goals . He ended the season in joint second place with Emmanuel Adebayor in the race for the Premier League golden boot . Torres was subject to media speculation that Chelsea were willing to pay £ 50 million to sign him but Torres responded by saying it would be " many years " before he left Liverpool . Liverpool co @-@ owner Tom Hicks also negated the idea of a transfer , saying he would not allow Torres to leave the club at any price . 
   
   = = = = 2008 – 09 season = = = = 
   
   Torres made a scoring start to the 2008 – 09 Premier League season with a 25 yard shot into the bottom right @-@ hand corner away at Sunderland , which was the only goal in a 1 – 0 win on 16 August 2008 . He suffered a hamstring tear in a 0 – 0 draw against Aston Villa , which would keep him out for two to three weeks . Torres made his return in a 2 – 1 victory against Marseille in the Champions League and went on to score two goals in the Merseyside derby against Everton on 27 September 2008 to give Liverpool a 2 – 0 win . He followed this up with another two goals the following weekend against Manchester City in a 3 – 2 win away at the City of Manchester Stadium as Liverpool came back from a two @-@ goal deficit . The first of these was the thousandth Liverpool goal to be scored in the Premier League . Torres picked up a hamstring injury during a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier , meaning he was likely to miss three games for Liverpool . On 22 October 2008 , Liverpool played Torres ' former club Atlético in the Champions League at the Vicente Calderón Stadium , but his injury meant he missed out on the game . The Atlético president , Enrique Cerezo , had given him a VIP invitation to watch the game , but he declined this to continue his rehabilitation from injury in Merseyside . He was named in the FIFPro World XI team for the 2007 – 08 season on 27 October 2008 . 
   Torres made his return for Liverpool on 8 November 2008 after coming on as a 72nd @-@ minute substitute in a 3 – 0 victory against West Bromwich Albion ( West Brom ) . He said he would be interested in returning to former club Atlético eventually , saying " I don 't know if I will retire there , but I would like to go back and finish some things that are left to do . " He was ruled out of action for two to three weeks following Liverpool 's 1 – 0 victory over Marseille in the Champions League in November , where he picked up a hamstring strain , which was later extended to at least four weeks by specialists . He was named on the shortlist for the FIFA World Player of the Year award in December , and eventually came in third place behind Ronaldo and Lionel Messi . Torres returned to action on 3 January 2009 as a substitute with a goal in the 2 – 0 win over Preston North End ; his first in the FA Cup . He scored two late goals for Liverpool to secure a 2 – 0 victory over Chelsea on 1 February 2009 . Despite having spent a year and a half at the club , Torres was chosen as number 50 in The Times 's list of " The 50 greatest Liverpool players " , reinforcing the impact he had made at Liverpool in such a short period of time . 
   Torres faced his old rivals Real Madrid on 10 March 2009 in the Champions League last 16 and due to an ankle injury , he had a painkilling injection before the game to enable him to play . He scored the first goal of the game , which ended as a 4 – 0 victory , meaning Liverpool progressed to the quarter @-@ finals 5 – 0 on aggregate . Four days later he lined up against Manchester United at Old Trafford and he scored the equaliser in a game that finished as a 4 – 1 victory . He was named in the PFA Team of the Year for the second season running in April 2009 . Torres scored his 50th goal for Liverpool on 24 May 2009 against Tottenham on the final day of the 2008 – 09 season , which was his 84th appearance . 
   
   = = = = 2009 – 10 season = = = = 
   
   Following the end of the season , he agreed a new contract with Liverpool , which he signed on 14 August . By signing this contract , Torres had the option of a one @-@ year extension after the contract 's expiration in 2013 . Torres scored two goals in a 3 – 2 win over West Ham United on 19 September 2009 , a result that took Liverpool to third in the Premier League . A week later he scored his first hat @-@ trick of the 2009 – 10 Premier League season in a 6 – 1 victory over Hull City at Anfield . He was named Premier League Player of the Month for September , after scoring five goals during the month and becoming the Premier League 's top goalscorer . On 25 October 2009 , he scored the first goal in a 2 – 0 victory for Liverpool over Manchester United , after which Benítez praised Torres ' performance , saying " We were waiting for that final pass . When it came we knew he would score . " Torres was named in the FIFPro World XI for the second successive season in December 2009 . His stoppage @-@ time winning goal against Aston Villa on 29 December 2009 made him the fastest Liverpool player ever to score 50 league goals . He was substituted on 65 minutes in a 1 – 1 draw with Birmingham City on 4 April 2010 , which Benítez justified by saying Torres was " exhausted " . Torres made his last appearance of the season scoring twice in a 4 – 1 victory over Benfica in the Europa League on 8 April 2010 , and it was announced on 18 April that he would miss the rest of the season to undergo knee surgery . This meant that Torres finished the season with 22 goals in 32 games in all competitions , finishing as Liverpool 's top scorer for the second time . 
   
   = = = = 2010 – 11 season = = = = 
   
   Following Roy Hodgson 's appointment as Liverpool manager he stated that Torres would not be sold by the club , saying " He is not for sale and we don 't welcome any offers for him . We want to keep him . " Hodgson dismissed reports Torres was set to leave Liverpool by saying " He has told us that he is looking forward to Monday , to getting back to work and looking forward to playing for Liverpool next season . That is what I know so other reports , I would suggest , are erroneous . " Torres stated his commitment to Liverpool on 3 August , saying " My commitment and loyalty to the club and to the fans is the same as it was on my first day when I signed . " 
   He made his first appearance of the 2010 – 11 season in the opening game , a 1 – 1 draw with Arsenal on 14 August 2010 , entering the game as a substitute in the 74th minute . He scored his first goal of the season with the winner in a 1 – 0 victory over West Brom on 29 August 2010 , which was his 50th goal at Anfield in all competitions . Torres scored the winning goal in a 2 – 1 victory at home to Blackburn Rovers on 24 October 2010 , which was his first goal since August . He scored his final goals for Liverpool in a 3 – 0 win away at Wolverhampton Wanderers on 22 January 2011 . 
   
   = = = Chelsea = = = 
   
   On 27 January 2011 , Torres was the subject of a £ 40 million bid from Chelsea , which was rejected by Liverpool . He subsequently handed in an official transfer request to Liverpool the next day , which was rejected . Torres completed his move to Chelsea on a five @-@ and @-@ a @-@ half @-@ year contract on 31 January 2011 for an undisclosed fee reported to be £ 50 million , which set a new record for a British transfer and made him the sixth most expensive footballer in history . He made his Chelsea debut on 6 February 2011 in a 1 – 0 home defeat to former club Liverpool . On 23 April 2011 , Torres scored his first goal for Chelsea against West Ham United in a 3 – 0 victory , which ended a run of 903 minutes of football without a goal . This was his only goal for Chelsea in the 2010 – 11 season , having made 18 appearances for his new club . 
   
   = = = = 2011 – 12 season = = = = 
   
   Torres got the 2011 – 12 season underway in Chelsea 's 0 – 0 draw away against Stoke City on 14 August 2011 , in which his " link @-@ up play was sharp , plus he was willing to make intelligent runs into space to receive the ball " . He scored his second goal at Chelsea , and his first of the season , on 18 September 2011 , during an away game against Manchester United , which was the side 's only goal in a 3 – 1 defeat . He scored his second goal of the season at home to Swansea City in a 4 – 1 victory . However , 10 minutes after his goal , a two @-@ footed challenge on Mark Gower resulted in his first red card in English football and a three @-@ match domestic suspension . On 19 October 2011 , Torres scored two goals in a 5 – 0 victory against Genk in the Champions League , his first in Europe since the quarter @-@ final of the 2008 – 09 Champions League with his old club Liverpool , against Chelsea . His next Chelsea goals came after scoring twice and also assisting two others against Championship side Leicester City in an FA Cup quarter @-@ final on 18 March 2012 , ending a goal drought that stretched 24 games . On 31 March 2012 , Torres scored his first Premier League goal since 24 September 2011 , against Aston Villa in a 4 – 2 away win . 
   Torres came on as a substitute for Didier Drogba on 24 April 2012 to score a last @-@ minute goal against FC Barcelona in the Champions League semi @-@ final , which gave Chelsea a 2 – 2 draw , and also eliminated Barcelona from the tournament , as Chelsea won 3 – 2 on aggregate . He scored the first hat @-@ trick of his Chelsea career in a 6 – 1 win against Queens Park Rangers at Stamford Bridge on 29 April 2012 . Torres came on in the second half of the 2012 UEFA Champions League Final on 19 May 2012 , directly after Bayern Munich 's opening goal , and following a 1 – 1 draw after extra time Chelsea won the penalty shoot @-@ out 4 – 3 . His first full season at Chelsea finished with 11 goals in 49 games . 
   
   = = = = 2012 – 13 season = = = = 
   
   Torres started the 2012 – 13 season in the 2012 FA Community Shield against Manchester City at Villa Park , where he scored the opening goal , as Chelsea lost 3 – 2 . On 19 August 2012 , he appeared in Chelsea 's first league match in a 2 – 0 away win against Wigan Athletic . Torres scored his first goal of the season in Chelsea 's next match on 22 August 2012 , a 4 – 2 home win against Reading , scoring the third goal to give his side the lead . He also scored against Newcastle United , Arsenal and Norwich City as Chelsea topped the table in the early weeks of the season . 
   Torres was sent off for receiving two yellow cards against Manchester United on 28 October 2012 , the second for diving , leaving Chelsea with nine men after teammate Branislav Ivanović was also sent off ; the team went on to lose 3 – 2 . Torres scored his first goal in the Champions League for the season after deflecting Shakhtar Donetsk goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov 's clearance into goal , as Chelsea needed a 94th @-@ minute winner from Victor Moses to secure a 3 – 2 victory on 7 November 2012 . On 21 November 2012 , Roberto Di Matteo was replaced as Chelsea manager by Rafael Benítez , who had previously coached Torres at Liverpool . It was reported that one reason for Benítez 's appointment was to help Torres return to his best form . 
   Torres ended a goal drought that stretched over 11 hours of game time with two goals in Chelsea 's 6 – 1 defeat of Nordsjælland in the Champions League on 5 December 2012 . Three days later he scored another two goals , ending a run of eight Premier League games without a goal , as Chelsea defeated Sunderland 3 – 1 . He then scored in Chelsea 's 2012 FIFA Club World Cup semi @-@ final 3 – 1 win against Monterrey of the Mexican Liga MX on 13 December 2012 , before playing in the 1 – 0 defeat to Brazilian Série A side Corinthians in the final three days later . 
   On 14 March 2013 , Torres scored the third goal as Chelsea defeated Steaua București 3 – 1 to advance 3 – 2 on aggregate to the quarter @-@ final of the Europa League . With this goal , Torres became the first player to score in seven different competitions in one season . In April 2013 , Torres acknowledged his struggles at Chelsea , saying : " I want to do the things I used to do . I did them at Atlético , I did them at Liverpool , but I am not doing them at Chelsea " , but he vowed to " try his heart out " to regain his best form . He scored twice against Rubin Kazan in the 3 – 1 win in the first leg of the Europa League quarter @-@ final on 4 April 2013 , before scoring again in the second leg 3 – 2 defeat , with Chelsea progressing to the semi @-@ final 5 – 4 on aggregate . Torres scored the opening goal in Chelsea 's 2 – 1 triumph over Benfica in the 2013 UEFA Europa League Final on 15 May 2013 . During the final game of the season , a 2 – 1 home win over Everton , he scored his first league goal of 2013 , and finished the season with 22 goals in 64 games . 
   
   = = = = 2013 – 14 season = = = = 
   
   Torres was selected to start by Chelsea 's new manager José Mourinho against Hull City on the opening day of the 2013 – 14 season , where he won a fifth minute penalty kick . He scored his first goal of the season in the 2013 UEFA Super Cup against Bayern Munich . On 28 September 2013 , he was sent off after receiving two yellow cards in Chelsea 's 1 – 1 Premier League draw with Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane . 
   Torres made his 100th start for Chelsea against Schalke 04 in a Champions League match on 22 October 2013 and marked the occasion by scoring two goals in a 3 – 0 win . His first Premier League goal of the season came on 27 October as he scored the winning goal in the 90th minute over title challengers Manchester City , while also providing the assist for André Schürrle 's opener . 
   
   = = = Milan = = = 
   
   Torres joined Serie A club Milan on a two @-@ year loan on 31 August 2014 . On his arrival he expressed a desire to emulate some of the club 's greatest strikers , stating he wanted , " My shirt to rank alongside [ Marco ] van Basten , [ George ] Weah and [ Filippo ] Inzaghi . " He debuted on 20 September 2014 , replacing Andrea Poli for the last 14 minutes of a 1 – 0 home defeat against Juventus and scored his first Milan goal with a looping header in their 2 – 2 draw with Empoli two days later . 
   
   = = = Return to Atlético Madrid = = = 
   
   On 27 December 2014 , it was announced that Torres ' move to Milan would be made permanent on 5 January 2015 , but two days later he agreed to rejoin La Liga club Atlético Madrid on loan until the end of the 2015 – 16 season . The loan was agreed after Alessio Cerci went the opposite way from Atlético to Milan on the same day ( 5 January 2015 ) . Torres ' unveiling at the Vicente Calderón Stadium on 4 January 2015 drew a crowd of 45 @,@ 000 . He played the first match of his second spell on 7 January 2015 , starting in the first leg of a Copa del Rey last 16 tie against Real Madrid . He had no shots on target and was replaced by Koke after 59 minutes , but Atlético won 2 – 0 . Eight days later in the second leg , he scored two goals — in the first minute of each half — as Atlético advanced , his first goals in an away Madrid derby . Torres scored in the first minute again in the quarter @-@ finals , albeit in a 2 – 3 home defeat against Barcelona . 
   On 17 March , Torres scored the winning kick in Atlético 's 3 – 2 penalty shoot @-@ out defeat of Bayer Leverkusen in the second leg of the teams ' Champions League round of 16 tie . On 21 March , he scored his first La Liga goal since his return in the third minute of a 2 – 0 win against Getafe CF . 
   After the departure of Mario Mandžukić , Torres changed his shirt number from 19 back to his usual 9 and is wearing it in the 2015 – 16 season . 
   On 6 February 2016 , Torres scored his 100th goal with Atlético Madrid in a 3 – 1 home league victory against SD Eibar on his 295th appearance for the club . The following month he marked the occasion of his 300th appearance for Atlético Madrid by scoring the winning goal in a 3 – 1 victory over Valencia . 
   On 5 April 2016 , Torres scored the opening goal of Atlético 's UEFA Champions League quarter @-@ final with FC Barcelona at Camp Nou , before being sent off ten minutes later in an eventual 2 – 1 loss . 
   On 5 July 2016 , Torres extended his contract to a permanent contract for one year with Atlético Madrid . 
   
   = = International career = = 
   
   In February 2001 , Torres won the Algarve Tournament with the Spain national under @-@ 16 team . The under @-@ 16s took part in the 2001 UEFA European Under @-@ 16 Championship in May , which they also won , with Torres scoring the only goal in the Final , as well as finishing as the tournament 's leading scorer , and was also named the player of the tournament . In September 2001 , Torres represented the under @-@ 17 team at the 2001 FIFA U @-@ 17 World Championship , but the team failed to progress through the group stage . In July 2002 , he won the 2002 UEFA European Under @-@ 19 Championship with the under @-@ 19 team and was again the only goalscorer in the Final . Also , he finished as top scorer and was named player of the tournament . 
   Torres made his debut for the senior team on 6 September 2003 in a friendly against Portugal . His first goal for Spain came against Italy on 28 April 2004 . He was selected for the Spanish squad for UEFA Euro 2004 . After appearing as a late substitute in Spain 's first two group games , he started for the deciding game against Portugal . Spain were losing 1 – 0 and , towards the end of the game , he hit the post . 
   He scored seven goals in 11 appearances in qualifying for the 2006 FIFA World Cup , making him Spain 's top scorer for qualification , including a vital two goals against Belgium and his first international hat @-@ trick against San Marino . At his first ever appearance in a FIFA World Cup finals at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany , Torres scored the final goal in a 4 – 0 victory over Ukraine with a volley . In the second group match , Torres scored twice against Tunisia , first in the 76th minute to take Spain 2 – 1 into the lead , and then again from a penalty kick in the 90th . With three goals , he finished the tournament as Spain 's top scorer along with fellow striker David Villa . 
   He was called up for Spain 's UEFA Euro 2008 squad , where he set up Villa to score Spain 's first goal of the tournament in the first game in the group stage against Russia . Torres came under criticism for apparently refusing to shake the hand of Spanish manager , Luis Aragonés , after being substituted . He subsequently denied being angry with the coaching , saying that he was actually " irritated with himself " . He scored his first goal of the tournament in Spain 's next game , a 2 – 1 win over Sweden . Torres scored the winner and was named the man of the match in the final against Germany in a 1 – 0 victory . He said " It 's just a dream come true . This is my first title and I hope it 's the first of many . Victory in a Euro , it is almost as big as a World Cup . We are used to watching finals on television , but today we were here and we won . My job is to score goals . I want to win more titles and be the most important player in Europe and the world . " He was later named as a striker along with his striking partner Villa in the Team of the Tournament . 
   Torres made his 60th appearance for Spain in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification victory over Turkey on 28 March 2009 , becoming the youngest player to reach this milestone . 
   He was named in Spain 's team for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in June . He scored his second hat @-@ trick for Spain after 17 minutes into a Confederations Cup game against New Zealand on 14 June , thus recording the fastest hat @-@ trick by a player for Spain . He played for Spain as they were defeated 2 – 0 by the United States in the semi @-@ final , as well as the third @-@ place play @-@ off , which Spain won 3 – 2 against South Africa after extra time . 
   Having undergone knee surgery on 18 April 2010 , and missed the end of the Premier League season , Torres ' rehabilitation and fitness was closely monitored by Spain manager Vicente del Bosque . Although still out injured , Torres was selected for Spain 's 2010 FIFA World Cup squad in May . On 8 June , Torres made his first appearance on the field in exactly two months , coming on as a substitute on 66 minutes against Poland in a pre @-@ World Cup friendly . 
   He came on as a substitute on 61 minutes in Spain 's opening World Cup game on 16 June , a 1 – 0 defeat to Switzerland . He started the next two games against Honduras and Chile and although his performances in the group stage were described as below @-@ par , he received backing from manager Vicente del Bosque . Torres came on as a substitute on 105 minutes in the final as Spain won the FIFA World Cup for the first time following a 1 – 0 victory over the Netherlands on 11 July 2010 . 
   Torres was selected in Del Bosque 's UEFA Euro 2012 squad . In his first start of the tournament he netted two goals as Spain defeated the Republic of Ireland 4 – 0 to knock them out of the tournament . In the UEFA Euro 2012 Final , Torres came on as a substitute against Italy , scoring one goal and assisting another , as Spain won a second consecutive European Championship with a 4 – 0 victory . This secured him the Golden Boot for the tournament with three goals and one assist , having played fewer minutes than Mario Gómez , who also had three goals and one assist . 
   Torres won his 100th cap against Saudi Arabia on 7 September 2012 , making him the sixth highest capped player for Spain , and started the game as captain in Iker Casillas ' absence . He became the first person in history to score four goals in one game in a FIFA Confederations Cup match during a 10 – 0 win over Tahiti on 20 June 2013 in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup . Torres also became the first player to score two hat @-@ tricks in the FIFA Confederations Cup , and with five goals and one assist won the tournament 's Golden Shoe , ahead of Fred having played fewer minutes . 
   In his first international for 11 months , Torres scored a penalty in a World Cup warm @-@ up match against Bolivia on 30 May 2014 . The day after , he was named in Spain 's final squad for the tournament , ahead of Álvaro Negredo and Fernando Llorente . After substitute appearances in the team 's opening two matches , Torres was named in the starting line @-@ up for the third group match with the team 's elimination already confirmed . He scored Spain 's second goal in a 3 – 0 defeat of Australia in Curitiba . 
   
   = = Style of play = = 
   
   Torres has been described as having " an eye for the spectacular and is capable of world @-@ class skill " and being a " technically proficient , highly successful striker " . He has the ability to find himself in goalscoring positions , using his pace and vision to get in behind defenders . 
   
   = = Personal life = = 
   
   Torres ' parents are José Torres and Flori Sanz . He has two older siblings , Israel ( born 1977 ) and María Paz ( born 1976 ) . He married Olalla Domínguez Liste on 27 May 2009 in a private ceremony with just two witnesses at the local town hall in El Escorial , Madrid . They had been a couple since 2001 and are thought to have met in the Galician seaside town of Estorde , Cee , where Torres would go on family holidays each year to escape the Spanish capital . The couple have two children , a daughter , Nora , born on 8 July 2009 at the Hospital La Rosaleda , in Santiago de Compostela , Galicia , and a son , Leo , born on 6 December 2010 at Liverpool Women 's Hospital , with Torres missing the fixture against Aston Villa at Anfield . 
   In 2009 , it was reported that Torres had amassed a personal fortune of £ 14 million . He features in the video for " Ya nada volverá a ser como antes " by Spanish pop rock group El Canto del Loco , whose singer , Dani Martín , shares a strong friendship with the footballer . He makes a cameo appearance in the 2005 comedy film Torrente 3 : El protector . In 2009 , he released an autobiography entitled Torres : El Niño : My Story . Torres is a keen admirer of the works of J. R. R. Tolkien and has a tattoo reading " Fernando " in Tengwar on his left forearm . 
   
   = = Career statistics = = 
   
   
   = = = Club = = = 
   
   As of match played 28 May 2016 . 
   
   = = = International = = = 
   
   As of match played 23 June 2014 . 
   
   = = Honours = = 
   
   
   = = = Club = = = 
   
   Atlético Madrid 
   Segunda División : 2001 – 02 
   Chelsea 
   FA Cup : 2011 – 12 
   UEFA Champions League : 2011 – 12 
   UEFA Europa League : 2012 – 13 
   
   = = = International = = = 
   
   Spain U16 
   UEFA European Under @-@ 16 Championship : 2001 
   Spain U19 
   UEFA European Under @-@ 19 Championship : 2002 
   Spain 
   UEFA European Championship : 2008 , 2012 
   FIFA World Cup : 2010 
   FIFA Confederations Cup : Third place 2009 , Runner @-@ up 2013 
   
   = = = Individual = = = 
   
   UEFA European Under @-@ 16 Championship Player of the Tournament : 2001 
   UEFA European Under @-@ 16 Championship top scorer : 2001 
   UEFA European Under @-@ 19 Championship Player of the Tournament : 2002 
   UEFA European Under @-@ 19 Championship top scorer : 2002 
   Premier League PFA Team of the Year : 2007 – 08 , 2008 – 09 
   Premier League Player of the Month : February 2008 , September 2009 
   Premier League Goal of the Month : April 2009 @,@  
   UEFA Euro 2008 Final : Man of the Match 
   UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament : 2008 
   UEFA Team of the Year : 2008 
   FIFA FIFPro World XI : 2008 , 2009 
   ESM Team of the Year : 2007 – 08 
   FIFA World Player of the Year third place : 2008 
   Ballon d 'Or third place : 2008 
   FIFA Confederations Cup Silver Shoe : 2009 
   Marca Leyenda award : 2012 
   UEFA Euro Golden Boot : 2012 
   FIFA Confederations Cup Golden Shoe : 2013 
   Decorations 
   Prince of Asturias Award for Sports : 2010 
   Gold Medal of the Royal Order of Sports Merit : 2011 
   
   