Radamel Falcao García Zárate (born 10 February 1986), commonly known as just
Falcao, is a
Colombian football forward who currently plays for
Porto. He is a natural goalscorer notable for his finishing and fantastic heading ability, despite his average height.
He is considered one of the best
forwards in the world, having passed
Jürgen Klinsmann's record of 15 goals (17) in a single
UEFA Cup/
UEFA Europa League campaign. He also played a key role in guiding his club to
a second UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League title, as well as finishing undefeated in the
2010–11 Primeira Liga season.
Background
Radamel prefers to be called by his middle name,
Falcao, though he is sometimes referred to by the nickname
El Tigre (The Tiger). Falcao is a dynamic striker noted for his ability to finish with both feet, a strong burst of pace, and a powerful header. Falcao is a second generation footballer: his father, Radamel García, played professionally as a defender in Colombia. Falcao is named after the 1980s
Brazilian and
A.S. Roma legend
Falcão. He is a devout
Christian and leader of the Church youth groups
"Locos por Jesús" and
"Campeones para Cristo."
Club career
River Plate (2005-2009)
- Early career
As a youth, Falcao began playing at Fair Play, a Colombian football school, before joining the youth system of Bogota's
Millonarios club. At the age of 15, Falcao was discovered by
River Plate while playing for the Colombian U-17 side and was...
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