It means the Swiss player is now the outright leader in titles won at Wimbledon after earning one more than Pete Sampras and William Renshaw.

The Swiss third seed won 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 to record a 19th Grand Slam title of his career on the grass of Centre Court.

Cilic was competing in his first Wimbledon final but the 2014 US Open champion was visibly upset and appeared to struggle with injuries during the second set.

Federer became the first man since Sweden's Bjorn Borg in 1976 to win the title without dropping a single set throughout the entire tournament.

"It is cruel sometimes, but Cilic fought well and he's a hero," Federer told the BBC.

"To be back here and feeling great, holding the trophy and the whole tournament not dropping a set is magical.

"I can't believe it - it's just too much really."

After an even start, Cilic failed to capitalise on a break point at 2-2 in the first set.

This appeared to spark Federer into life as he went on to break the Croatian in the next game, and he held safely until a second break at 5-3 sealed the opener.

At 3-0 in the second, Cilic was seen crying into his towel as medics arrived on court but they did not give any treatment until Federer had sealed it 6-1.

Prior to the start of the third, the physio treated Cilic's feet and what appeared to be a nasty blister on his sole.

A 22nd unforced error of the match from the Croatian allowed the Swiss to break for 4-3 as he closed in on victory.

Federer stepped out to serve for the match at 5-4 and sealed victory with an ace down the middle.

Victory vindicated Federer's decision to miss the entire clay court season to prepare for a title challenge in the English capital.

Spain's Garbiñe Muguruza won the women's singles title yesterday following a straight-sets victory over American Venus Williams.

Action concluded with the mixed doubles final on Centre Court today.

Number one seeds Jamie Murray of Great Britain and Martina Hingis of Switzerland were crowned champions.

They defeated last year's winners Heather Watson, also of Britain, and Finland’s Henri Kontinen 6-4, 6-4.

It is the second Wimbledon mixed doubles titles for both players after Murray won in 2007 and Hingis was victorious in 2015.