MADRID (AFP) - Real Madrid and Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas on Friday welcomed the birth of his first child, a baby boy called Martin, with his partner, the television reporter Sara Carbonero.

"I want to share with you the most important and moving moment of my life: the birth of my son," said Casillas, captain of Spain's World Cup and double-Euro-winning national team.

Martin, who weighed 3.85kg, and his mother "are perfectly well and are now resting", he added, in a statement sent to fans.

Casillas, 32, won the hearts of Spaniards when he kissed Carbonero, 29, live on air as she interviewed him after Spain's victory over the Netherlands in the 2010 World Cup final.