Radamel Falcao

Radamel Falcao is a Colombian professional footballer, born on 10 February 1986 in Santa Marta, Colombia.

He plays as a striker for the Ligue 1 club AS Monaco but is currently with Chelsea on loan.

Falcao is right footed and has a brilliant knack of scoring goals. He has the ability to score a goal from an impossible chance and that is what makes him lethal.

He is known for being equally talented with both his feet and has good aerial presence on the field. Many of Falcao’s goals have come from headers and difficult to take chances.

He is also compared to the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo who are world class players.

Background

As a young footballer Falcao started his career with the Colombian Categoría Primera B team Lanceros Boyacá in 1999. He was just 13 years of age when he joined the team.

Argentine club River Plate bought Falcao in 2001. He played for the 8th Division in the Argentine league.

Debut

Falcao made his first professional debut for River Plate on 6th March 2005 against Instituto de Córdoba. He won the match by 3 goal to 1.

Although Falcao missed on the 2007’s Copa América, he was able to play the tournament for Columbia in 2011.

Rise To Glory

Falcao made 90 appearances for River Plate and scored 34 times in his career with the Argentine club before leaving to Porto in 2009.

In September of 2009-10 season, Falcao scored his first Champions League goal against Atlético Madrid. Falcao was also the second highest scorer in the Portuguese league that season with 25 goals and 34 in all competitions.

Falcao’s brilliant form continued in the next season. His first hat-trick came in December against Rapid Wien in Europa League and to follow that he scored another set of three goals against Spartak Moscow finishing the match with an outrageous 5-1 scoreline. His performances helped Porto win the league title. Falcao also contributed in the Europa League and won the finals by scoring against Braga. The Columbian had an outstanding record of 41 goals in 51 games with the club.

Falcao was signed by Spanish club Atlético Madrid on 18 August 2011 for a hefty price of 40 million euros. He immediately made an impact with his talent in the spanish league scoring 36 goals in 51 appearances in all competitions.

He helped the team to win Europa League and became the first player ever to win the trophy with two different teams in succession.

The 2012-13 season started with a bang as Falcao won the UEFA Super Cup scoring a hat-trick against Chelsea and winning 4-1. He helped the team win the 2013 Copa del Rey trophy and scored on many occasions during the tournament to carry the team.

Falcao made 68 appearances and scored 52 goals for his brilliant time with the club.

Monaco announced that they had bought Falcao on 31 May 2013. In the 2013-14 season, Falcao made 19 appearances and scored 11 goals. However he suffered injury in January 2014 and was out until his return in July of the next season.

Falcao made decision to move to Manchester United and was signed on a loan deal on 1 September 2014. He made 26 appearances and scored 4 goals that season.

Chelsea signed the Columbian striker later in July 2015, as Falcao looked to improve his form but only managed a brief spell at the English club. He played 10 games for Chelsea and scored only once.

Falcao returned to his parent club Monaco in July 2016 and went onto score 30 goals in 43 games in all competitions for the 2016-17 season.

He is currently playing brilliantly in the 2017-18 season and has bagged in 24 goals in 34 games.

International Career

Falcao played the 2011 Copa América for Colombia, he later also took part in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers and was their top scorer. However Falcao couldn't play in the main tournament because of a serious injury.

He played the 2015 Copa América and helped the team reach the quarterfinals of the tournament but unfortunately lost to Argentina in the penaties.

Falcao has also taken part in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Chile, Argentina and Uruguay. He has 71 caps for Colombia and is their top scorer with 29 goals.