Enrique Iglesias may not be the freshest act at tonight's Isle of MTV Malta Special, but that has nothing to do with the fact that he's back for the second year running.

It's because he's just turned up from a day out on a boat, swimming with tuna in what he describes as impressively massive nets (presumably the pens), and he claims to be reeking of fish - "like always!"

No one seems to mind... "But you will, trust me, if you spend the night with me," he insists.

Everyone's already laughing and he tries to explain what he meant. The man has a sense of humour, usually keeping dead serious when cracking a joke. It's clear his charisma isn't confined to the stage and his soft side is stuck to his lyrics.

He's happy to be back. "It should be fun," he says enthusiastically about tonight's concert. "I had a great time last year; it was a great audience and today I had a great day off!

"The audience was one of the best crowds I've ever seen in one of these festivals... Part of me wasn't sure returning was the right thing to do, so other artistes could get the chance, but they (MTV) asked me a bunch of times and I said I'd love to."

OK, so he's happy to be back. But what about the audience? Can the best-selling Spanish artiste of the last decade have the same impact on the same audience, singing the same songs? He rises to the challenge. "I'll sing naked this year!"

Then he feigns offence because everyone's going to turn up. "Is that the only reason why you'd come?"

Today, he plans to put on the best performance he can. "Whenever I'm in front of a good crowd, like last year's - and I'm sure this year's will be as good - I give my all."

Back then, it was the novelty that had excited him. Now that it's gone? "Now, I've fallen in love with the island. I've made friends here. In fact, I arrived two days early to do some work and also hang out and relax."

Not that Malta's the ideal country to work in. "I would just be on holiday, resting and having fun here. Malta's too much fun for that!"

The singer got to see lots of the island on his boat trip, which took him to beaches and into caves. "The water is absolutely stunning. I've been all over the world and I've seen such beautiful beaches but the water here has no reason to envy other places," he says, admitting he was pleasantly surprised.

However, he has been most impressed by the "amazing" friendliness of the Maltese. "There aren't many countries you visit and feel this level of friendliness," he maintains.

"Then there's... the food?" He lists rabbit, with an element of doubt. "I know my stuff!"

From food to football, his Can You Hear Me was chosen to be the official anthem of the UEFA Euro 2008 and he is performing live at the final match in Vienna on Sunday.

He attributes the opportunity to "signing a cheque and handing it over". But, joking apart, he knows many would have loved to be in his shoes and the singer is a massive football fan anyway.

Performing at the finals marks the one time in his career that he won't be thinking so much about the musical aspect of it. He's excited about being in the presence of such a historical sports event. "If Spain makes it to the final, it would truly be one of the best moments in my life. It would be perfect!"

The Madrid-born superstar is rehearsing tomorrow but it looks like he can get to watch the Spain game. "Watching Spain play is nerve-wracking - more than going on stage. There's something about the Euro and the World Cup - when you see the teams going onto the pitch in their kits and you hear the national anthems - that's really compelling."

So in between Isle of MTV concerts, what has Enrique Iglesias been up to? His album Insomniac, released last June, has achieved expected results, and unexpected hits that have kept him energised. (His current hit single Tired Of Being Sorry has had massive success across Europe and is number one in France for the ninth week running.)

Next in line is a greatest hits album in autumn - in English this time, following the recent release of the Spanish hits. "It's easier to write two new tracks than 10," he jokes. What's for sure is that he has no intention of putting anything out there that doesn't really convince him 100 per cent.

Thirteen years into his career, listing songs such as Rhythm Divine, Be With You and Hero and selling 40 million albums in little over a decade, Enrique Iglesias still feels he can write better songs. And that's his driving force. "I'm always in search of that perfect song - although there's no such thing really."

Until yesterday, he hadn't yet decided which of his vast repertoire he would be singing this evening. So that's going to be a surprise. "I'm going to go and choose the set list now," he says.

"Hopefully, they'll be mine," he adds with a straight face, and you almost miss the joke.