Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso has been honoured with the Lani Onari award by the president of the Basque autonomous region Patxi Lopez.

Alonso helped Spain win the World Cup in South Africa in the summer and has also been in very good form for los Blancos since the start of the 2010-11 season.

Lopez has been quoted by Madrid’s official website as saying, His football boots represent the universality of sport, whether here among us, in England, Madrid or South Africa. He is an example of excellence in sports for our youth.”

Alonso was signed by Madrid from Premier League side Liverpool in the summer of 2009.