Radamel Falcao: Biography, Facts and Career

Radamel Falcao García Zárate (born 10 February 1986) is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Categoría Primera A club Millonarios. Nicknamed "El Tigre" (The Tiger), he is considered one of the greatest Colombian and South American footballers of all time. With over 350 goals for club and country, he is the all time top goalscorer for the Colombia national team. Falcao began his professional career in Argentina with River Plate, where he played in their youth academy from 2001 until 2004 and later won the 2007–08 Clausura tournament. In 2009–10, he joined Porto, where he won several trophies, including the UEFA Europa League, Taça de Portugal and Primeira Liga treble in 2011. In August 2011, Falcao moved to Spanish club Atlético Madrid for a club-record €40 million. He was integral in the club's 2012 Europa League and UEFA Super Cup victories, as well as their 2013 Copa del Rey final victory over rivals Real Madrid. Falcao was also prolific in La Liga during his time with Atlético, being the third-highest goalscorer in 2011–12 and 2012–13, behind both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Regarded at the time as one of the best strikers in the world, Falcao signed for newly promoted Ligue 1 side Monaco in 2013 for a club-record €60 million, despite interest from top European clubs. In the second half of his debut season, an ACL injury ruled him out for six months; he went on to spend the next two seasons on loan at Premier League clubs Manchester United and Chelsea. Rejoining Monaco in the summer of 2016, he regained his best form, finishing as the club's top goalscorer in every competition and captaining them to their first Ligue 1 title in 17 years, as well as a UEFA Champions League semi-final. Falcao joined Turkish club Galatasaray in 2019, before returning to La Liga in 2021 with Rayo Vallecano. Finally, in 2024, Falcao joined Colombian club Millonarios. Falcao made his senior debut for Colombia in 2007, and has since earned over 100 caps and scored 36 goals, making him the all-time top scorer of the national team since breaking the previous record of 25 goals in June 2017. He represented his country at the 2011, 2015 and 2019 Copa América. Falcao 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. Falcao is one of the all-time top scorers of the UEFA Europa League and holds the record for most goals scored in a single season of the tournament. He set the record for most goals (17) in a European campaign in 2011 and is the first player to win consecutive Europa League titles with two teams (Porto in 2011 and Atlético in 2012). Falcao is Porto's all-time top goalscorer in international club competitions, and is also Monaco's second-highest goalscorer this century (83). He was named in the FIFA FIFPro World XI in 2012, becoming the first and only Colombian player to achieve this feat. A three-time Ballon d'Or nominee, Falcao finished in fifth place for the 2012 FIFA Ballon d'Or, the highest-ever Ballon d'Or placement by a Colombian player. He was also awarded the 2012 Globe Soccer Best Footballer. In November 2018, Falcao was honoured by Atlético Madrid fans with a plaque outside the Metropolitano Stadium.

Quick facts about Radamel Falcao

• Full name: Radamel Falcao
• Born: 1986-02-10
• Nationality: Venezuela
• Known as: Athlete
• Wikidata ID: Q138172

Profile compiled from public Wikipedia and Wikidata data. Details can change over time.