Brazil have won the Confederations Cup for the third straight time, beating Spain 3-0 in the final at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday night.

Luiz Felipe Scolari's Selecao took it right up to the World champions from the outset and managed to record a comfortable win on home soil to become Confederations Cup champions for the fourth time.

Fred was the hero for Brazil, scoring twice, whilst Neymar added another goal to his highlight reel as the home side extended their unbeaten streak to 11 games.

The scoring was opened in just the second minute when Fluminense's Fred struck an opportunistic effort whilst laying on the ground, contorting his body to somehow flick the ball over a prone Iker Casillas from close range.

Brazil were bossing the usually efficient Spaniards and their physical dominance paid dividends a minute from the main break when Barcelona new boy Neymar received a clever pass from Oscar on the left side of the area before hammering into the roof of the net from an angle.

Less than two minutes into the second half and Brazil were three to the good when Fred got on the end of a pass from Hulk, which was brilliantly dummied by Neymar, to slot home past Casillas' outstretched right hand.

In the 54th minute, Spain were awarded a penalty when substitute Jesus Navas was felled by Marcelo in the box but Sergio Ramos blasted wide form the spot before Gerard Pique was shown a straight red card for his 68th-minute tackle on Neymar as the last defender.

That was enough to allow Brazil to see out the contest as they tuned up for next year's World Cup at home with a dynamic performance in front of more a raucous crowd in Rio.

2013 Confederations Cup final

Brazil: 3 (Fred 2'/47', Neymar 44') Spain: 0 (missed penalty: Sergio Ramos 54', red card: Gerard Pique 68')

Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 73,531