Marco Asensio was the star of the show as Luis Enrique’s Spain thrashed Croatia 6-0 in the UEFA Nations League on Tuesday.

The 22-year-old scored one, saw another strike rebound off the crossbar and go in off the goalkeeper and set up three second-half goals to complete a statement victory in Elche.

Speaking after the game, Asensio told Sport: “We’re ending a get-together which went really well in every way and with our fans today we have been loved. It was really good playing here.”

The Real Madrid man has flourished at club level, winning eight trophies, including the Liga title and two Champions Leagues, and has developed into a jewel on the international stage over the past 12 months.

He added: “I am always trying to give my best on the pitch and if I can score goals, all the better. We have played against team that did really well in the World Cup. We saw it as a challenge and these are two important victories.”