Radamel Falcao

Radamel Falcao García Zárate (born 10 February 1986) is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Liga DIMAYOR club Millonarios. Nicknamed "El Tigre" (The Tiger), he is regarded as one of the best strikers of his generation and one of the greatest South American players of all time. He is the all-time top goalscorer for the Colombia national team and was the all-time top goalscorer in the UEFA Europa League until 2024. In 2012, he was named in the FIFA FIFPro World XI, finished in fifth place for the FIFA Ballon d'Or, and was awarded the Globe Soccer Best Player of the Year.

Falcao began his professional career in Argentina with River Plate, where he played in their youth academy from 2001 until 2004. In 2009, he relocated to Europe as he joined Portuguese club Porto. In 2010–11, Falcao scored twice in the Europa League final as Porto completed a treble. He was the Europa League top scorer with a competition-record 17 goals. In August 2011, he joined Atlético Madrid, where he again won the Europa League title, scoring twice in the final. In 2012–13, he scored a hat-trick in Atlético's win against Chelsea in the UEFA Super Cup and helped the club win the Copa del Rey.

Despite interest from top European clubs, Falcao signed for newly promoted Ligue 1 side Monaco in 2013 for €60 million, one of the most expensive transfers at the time. After sustaining a six-month ACL injury in his first season, he had loan spells at Premier League clubs Manchester United and Chelsea. He returned to Monaco in 2016, helping the club end the league dominance of Paris Saint-Germain by winning the 2016–17 Ligue 1 title, scoring 21 goals. Since leaving Monaco in 2019, Falcao has played for Galatasaray, Rayo Vallecano, and Millonarios.

Falcao made his senior debut for Colombia in 2007. He earned over 100 caps and scored 36 goals. He represented his country at the 2011, 2015 and 2019 Copa América. He missed the 2014 FIFA World Cup through injury, but made his World Cup debut at the 2018 tournament in Russia. He also captained the national team various times between 2015 and 2021, until recurring injuries affected his availability.