Manchester United striker van Nistelrooy, officially named man of the match in the Cup Final, was on cloud nine after scoring twice against Millwall.

The Dutch forward thumped home a penalty and finished off a Ryan Giggs cross in United’s 3-0 victory and was certainly in celebratory mood.

He placed The FA Cup on the turf in Cardiff after the final whistle and danced a jig around it.

"I was just so happy," he said. "It’s great to win this cup, it’s a big trophy in England and far beyond. We had a tough run playing Aston Villa, Man City, Fulham – and then Arsenal in the semi-final of course.

"But in the Final we showed everybody what we are capable of."

Van Nistelrooy admits he always dreamed of winning The FA Cup when he was growing up in Holland, and he insists it remains the number one cup competition in the world.

"Of course it’s a big, big competition. I don’t need to tell you how big. All Englishmen know already but I’m from Holland and I know around the world how big this trophy is. So I’m very proud that I won it."