Radamel Falcao facts for kids

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal family name is García and the second or maternal family name is Zárate.

Quick facts for kids
Radamel Falcao
Personal information
Falcao in 2019
Full name	Radamel Falcao García Zárate
Date of birth	(1986-02-10) 10 February 1986 (age 39)
Place of birth	Santa Marta, Colombia
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Striker
Youth career
1997–1999	Lanceros Boyacá
2001–2004	River Plate
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1999–2001	Lanceros Boyacá	11	(2)
2004–2009	River Plate	90	(34)
2009–2011	Porto	51	(41)
2011–2013	Atlético Madrid	68	(52)
2013–2019	Monaco	108	(65)
2014–2015	→ Manchester United (loan)	26	(4)
2015–2016	→ Chelsea (loan)	10	(1)
2019–2021	Galatasaray	34	(19)
2021–2024	Rayo Vallecano	71	(9)
2024–2025	Millonarios	28	(11)
International career^‡
2001–2005	Colombia U17	3	(1)
2005–2007	Colombia U20	12	(3)
2007–2023	Colombia	104	(36)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19 June 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 28 March 2023

Radamel Falcao García Zárate (born 10 February 1986) is a famous Colombian footballer. He plays as a striker, which means he is a player who scores goals. People call him "El Tigre" (The Tiger) because he is so fierce on the field. Many think he is one of the best strikers of his time and one of Colombia's greatest players ever. He has scored over 350 goals for his clubs and country, making him the second-highest Colombian goalscorer in history.

Falcao started his professional journey in Argentina with River Plate. He joined their youth team in 2001 and later helped them win a big tournament in 2008. In 2009, he moved to Porto in Portugal. There, he won many trophies, including the UEFA Europa League and the Portuguese league title in 2011.

In 2011, Falcao joined Atlético Madrid in Spain. He was a key player in their wins, helping them lift the Europa League and UEFA Super Cup in 2012. He also helped them win the 2013 Copa del Rey final against their rivals Real Madrid. Falcao was one of the top goalscorers in the Spanish league during his time at Atlético.

In 2013, Falcao made a surprising move to Ligue 1 team Monaco. He faced a serious knee injury in his first season, which kept him out for a long time. He then played on loan for Premier League clubs Manchester United and Chelsea. When he returned to Monaco in 2016, he became their captain and helped them win their first league title in 17 years. He also led them to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League. After Monaco, Falcao played for Galatasaray in Turkey and Rayo Vallecano in Spain. In 2024, he returned to Colombia to play for Millonarios.

Falcao first played for the Colombian national team in 2007. He has played over 100 games and scored 36 goals, making him the country's all-time top scorer. He played in the Copa América tournaments in 2011, 2015, and 2019. He missed the 2014 FIFA World Cup due to injury but made his World Cup debut in 2018 in Russia.

Falcao is one of the top goalscorers in the history of the UEFA Europa League. He holds the record for most goals scored in a single season of that tournament, with 17 goals in 2011. He is also the first player to win two Europa League titles in a row with different teams. In 2012, he was named in the FIFA FIFPro World XI, which is like being chosen as one of the best players in the world.

Club Career Highlights

Starting with Lanceros Boyacá

Falcao started his football journey very young. He played his first professional game for Lanceros Boyacá in Colombia on 28 August 1999. He was only 13 years old, making him the youngest player to debut in that league. In 2000, when he was 14, he played more games and scored his first goal for the club. He played eight matches and scored once for Lanceros Boyacá.

Time at River Plate

After his time in Colombia, Falcao moved to Argentina in 2001 to join River Plate. He started in their youth teams. His first professional game for River Plate was on 6 March 2005.

He became a regular player in 2005. He scored two goals in a game for the first time in Argentina on 2 October. He scored two more goals in five minutes in another game, but then got an injury that kept him out for a while. He finished that season with seven goals in seven games. In 2006, he had another serious knee injury that needed surgery, keeping him off the field for about seven months.

Falcao scored his first professional hat-trick (three goals in one game) on 27 September 2007. This helped River Plate make an amazing comeback in a tournament game. He also scored his first goal in a "Superclásico" match against Boca Juniors, which is a huge rivalry game. In 2008, Falcao was a key player when River Plate won the 2008 Clausura title, which was his first league title. He scored 6 goals that season. He continued to score many goals for River Plate until 2009.

Moving to Porto

Falcao playing for FC Porto in 2010

On 15 July 2009, Falcao joined Porto in Portugal. He quickly made an impact, scoring in his first game. He scored four goals in his first four league matches. On 30 September 2009, he scored his first goal in the UEFA Champions League. He scored many important goals for Porto, including the winning goal against rivals Sporting. He finished his first season with 34 goals in all competitions.

The 2010–11 season was even better for Falcao. He scored a goal in the Portuguese Super Cup final. On 2 December, he scored his first hat-trick for Porto in the UEFA Europa League. He scored another hat-trick in the Europa League quarter-finals. In the semi-finals, he scored four goals in one game! In the Europa League final, Falcao scored the only goal, winning the title for Porto. He set a new record by scoring 17 goals in the Europa League that season.

Success at Atlético Madrid

Falcao celebrates winning the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League with Atlético Madrid

On 18 August 2011, Falcao joined Atlético Madrid in Spain. It was a very expensive transfer, making him the most expensive player in the club's history at the time. He made his debut on 11 September. Just a week later, he scored his first hat-trick for Atlético. He continued to score many goals in the Europa League.

In the Europa League final on 9 May 2012, Falcao scored two goals, helping Atlético win 3–0. He became the top goalscorer in the Europa League again, with 12 goals. He also became the first player to win two Europa League titles in a row with different teams.

In the 2012–13 season, Falcao started strong. He scored two hat-tricks, one against Athletic Bilbao and another in the 2012 UEFA Super Cup final against Chelsea. He was the first player to score a hat-trick in a UEFA Super Cup final. In October 2012, he was nominated for the 2012 FIFA Ballon d'Or, one of football's biggest awards. On 9 December, Falcao scored an amazing five goals in a single game against Deportivo de La Coruña. This was a rare achievement in the Spanish league.

He finished the season with 28 league goals, placing him third among top scorers. In the 2013 Copa del Rey Final, Falcao helped Atlético win against their rivals Real Madrid, which was their first win against them in 14 years.

Time at Monaco

Falcao warming up for Monaco in 2014

In May 2013, Falcao signed with Ligue 1 team Monaco. This move was a surprise to many because he was considered one of the best strikers in the world. He made his debut on 10 August, scoring a goal. He quickly became the top scorer in the French league.

However, on 23 January 2014, Falcao suffered a very serious ACL injury in his left knee. This meant he would need six months to recover and would miss the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He worked hard to recover and returned to play in July.

Loans to English Clubs

Falcao playing for Manchester United in 2015

On 1 September 2014, Falcao joined Manchester United in England on a loan deal. He made his debut on 14 September. On 5 October, he scored his first goal for United. However, his time at Manchester United was difficult due to injuries and not playing as much as he hoped. He scored 4 goals in 29 games.

Falcao playing for Chelsea in 2015

On 3 July 2015, Falcao went on loan to another English club, Chelsea. He made his debut on 2 August. On 29 August, he scored his only goal for Chelsea. Unfortunately, he suffered more injuries and was ruled out for a long time. He played only 12 games for Chelsea.

Return to Monaco

Falcao playing for Monaco in 2016

Falcao returned to Monaco in July 2016 and was made team captain. He quickly found his best form again. On 5 November, he scored two goals in a league match. On 10 December, he scored his first hat-trick in the French league.

In February 2017, Falcao scored two amazing goals against Manchester City in the Champions League. He finished the season as Monaco's top scorer with 30 goals and helped them win the Ligue 1 title. He extended his contract with Monaco until 2020.

He continued to score many goals in the 2017–18 season, including a hat-trick against Dijon. He finished as top scorer for Monaco with 18 league goals. In the 2018–19 season, he remained Monaco's top scorer with 16 goals, even though the team had a tough year.

Playing for Galatasaray

On 2 September 2019, Falcao joined Süper Lig club Galatasaray in Turkey. He was welcomed by over 25,000 fans at the airport! He scored a goal in his first game on 13 September. He scored two goals in a game for the first time with Galatasaray on 28 December.

In his first season, he played 22 matches and scored 11 goals. In the 2020–21 season, he scored twice in his first league game. However, he faced many injuries during his time at Galatasaray, missing 49 matches in total. On 1 September 2021, he and the club agreed to end his contract.

Joining Rayo Vallecano

On 4 September 2021, Falcao signed with La Liga club Rayo Vallecano in Spain. He chose the jersey number 3 to honor his late father, who was a defender and wore that number. He scored a goal in his debut for Rayo on 18 September. On 27 October, Falcao scored the only goal in a famous win against Barcelona.

Return to Colombia with Millonarios

On 20 June 2024, Falcao returned to his home country, Colombia, and joined Millonarios. He scored his first goal for Millonarios on 1 September. His contract was extended for another six months in January 2025. In his first season, he played 16 league matches and scored five goals, but also had two injuries. Falcao's time with Millonarios ended on 2 July 2025.

International Career for Colombia

Youth and Early Senior Games

Falcao played for the Colombia U17 team and scored a goal in 2001. He also played for the U20 team and helped them win the South American U-20 Championship in 2005.

He made his debut for the senior Colombian national team on 7 February 2007. He scored his first goal for Colombia on 3 June against Montenegro. He played in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers, scoring one goal.

Copa América and World Cup Qualifiers

Falcao played in his first major international tournament, the 2011 Copa América in Argentina. He scored two goals in a game against Bolivia, helping Colombia win their group.

He was a key player in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers. He scored important goals, including one in the last minute against Bolivia in 2011. On 7 September 2012, he scored a header to help Colombia win 4–0 against Uruguay. On 11 October 2013, he scored two penalties against Chile, which helped Colombia qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1998! He was Colombia's top scorer in the qualifiers with nine goals.

Missing the World Cup and Becoming Top Scorer

Mural of Falcao in Cali

Sadly, due to his serious ACL injury in January 2014, Falcao missed the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Many people around the world supported him during his recovery. Even though he tried his best to recover, he decided not to join the squad because he wasn't fully fit.

He scored his first international goal after his injury on 10 October 2014. On 6 June 2015, he tied the record as Colombia's all-time top scorer with his 25th goal. He captained the team at the 2015 Copa América, but didn't score.

Falcao during the penalty shoot-out in the 2018 World Cup round of 16 match against England

On 7 June 2017, Falcao officially became the Colombia national team's all-time top goalscorer, scoring his 26th goal against Spain. He helped Colombia qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

First World Cup and Later Tournaments

After missing the previous World Cup, Falcao made his World Cup debut against Japan on 19 June 2018. On 24 June, he scored his first World Cup goal in Colombia's 3–0 win over Poland. This was a very special moment for him and his country. Colombia lost in the round of 16 to England in a penalty shootout, even though Falcao scored his penalty.

He was part of the Colombia squad for the 2019 Copa América. On 24 September 2022, he played his 100th match for Colombia.

How Falcao Plays Football

Falcao is known as a "natural goal scorer." He is great at scoring goals from almost any situation. He is strong and can hold the ball well, often playing as a traditional "number 9" striker. This means he focuses on being in the right place to score. His shots are powerful and accurate, whether from far away or close up. He is also good with both his right and left feet, which makes him very flexible.

Even though he is not very tall (1.77 m), Falcao is excellent at heading the ball because of his jumping technique. He has also shown skill at taking free-kicks, which is unusual for a striker.

Many people consider Falcao one of the best strikers of his generation and one of Colombia's greatest footballers ever. Before his serious knee injury, he was widely seen as one of the top strikers in the world. Famous football figures like Pep Guardiola and Fabio Capello have praised his talent.

Falcao has also inspired many younger players. French superstar Kylian Mbappé said that Falcao was like a "teacher" to him and helped him grow as a player.

Outside Football

Personal Life and Family

Falcao's signature

Falcao comes from a football family. His father, Radamel García, was also a professional footballer who played as a defender. His father passed away in 2019. When Falcao joined Rayo Vallecano, he chose the number 3 jersey to honor his father, who wore that number. When he was younger, Falcao also played baseball. He has two younger sisters.

His first name, Radamel, comes from a famous Brazilian football legend, Paulo Roberto Falcão. His nickname, "El Tigre," was given to him by a teammate after he scored two goals in a game and won a trophy with a tiger on it.

Falcao married Argentine singer and model Lorelei Tarón in 2007. They have five children: Dominique (born 2013), Desirée (born 2015), Annette (born 2017), Jedediah (born 2020), and Heaven (born 2023). Falcao is a very religious person and a devout Christian.

He has some English family history too! One of his great-grandfathers moved from England to Colombia in 1932.

Helping Others

Falcao has done a lot of charity work. In 2013, he helped a watch company donate money to a United Nations program in Colombia. In 2015, he helped a 17-year-old Colombian boy find a heart transplant donor.

Career Statistics

Club Appearances and Goals

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			National cup		League cup		Continental		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Lanceros Boyacá	1999	Categoría Primera B	1	0	—		—		0	0	—		1	0
	2000	Categoría Primera B	10	2	—		—		0	0	0	0	10	2
	Total		11	2	—		—		0	0	0	0	11	2
River Plate	2004–05	Argentine Primera División	4	0	—		—		0	0	—		4	0
	2005–06	Argentine Primera División	7	7	—		—		0	0	—		7	7
	2006–07	Argentine Primera División	20	3	—		—		3	0	—		23	3
	2007–08	Argentine Primera División	27	11	—		—		12	8	—		39	19
	2008–09	Argentine Primera División	32	13	—		—		6	3	—		38	16
	Total		90	34	—		—		21	11	—		111	45
Porto	2009–10	Primeira Liga	28	25	5	5	2	0	8	4	0	0	43	34
	2010–11	Primeira Liga	22	16	3	3	0	0	16	18	1	1	42	38
	2011–12	Primeira Liga	1	0	—		—		—		1	0	2	0
	Total		51	41	8	8	2	0	24	22	2	1	87	72
Atlético Madrid	2011–12	La Liga	34	24	1	0	—		15	12	—		50	36
	2012–13	La Liga	34	28	4	2	—		2	1	1	3	41	34
	Total		68	52	5	2	—		17	13	1	3	91	70
Monaco	2013–14	Ligue 1	17	9	2	2	0	0	—		—		19	11
	2014–15	Ligue 1	3	2	0	0	0	0	—		—		3	2
	2016–17	Ligue 1	29	21	2	1	2	1	10	7	—		43	30
	2017–18	Ligue 1	26	18	1	0	3	3	5	3	1	0	36	24
	2018–19	Ligue 1	33	15	1	1	0	0	5	0	—		39	16
	Total		108	65	6	4	5	4	20	10	1	0	140	83
Manchester United (loan)	2014–15	Premier League	26	4	3	0	0	0	—		—		29	4
Chelsea (loan)	2015–16	Premier League	10	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	12	1
Galatasaray	2019–20	Süper Lig	16	10	3	1	—		3	0	—		22	11
	2020–21	Süper Lig	17	9	0	0	—		1	0	—		18	9
	2021–22	Süper Lig	1	0	0	0	—		2	0	—		3	0
	Total		34	24	3	1	0	0	6	0	—		43	25
Rayo Vallecano	2021–22	La Liga	22	6	3	0	—		—		—		25	6
	2022–23	La Liga	27	2	2	0	—		—		—		29	2
	2023–24	La Liga	22	1	4	3	—		—		—		26	4
	Total		71	9	9	3	—		—		—		80	12
Millonarios	2024	Categoría Primera A	16	5	0	0	—		—		—		16	5
	2025	Categoría Primera A	12	6	0	0	—		1	0	—		13	6
	Total		28	11	0	0	—		1	0	—		29	11
Career total			497	243	34	18	8	4	89	56	5	4	633	320

International Appearances and Goals

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Colombia	2007	8	2
	2008	5	1
	2009	9	2
	2010	4	1
	2011	8	4
	2012	7	5
	2013	9	5
	2014	3	1
	2015	9	4
	2016	2	0
	2017	6	3
	2018	11	4
	2019	8	2
	2020	2	1
	2021	6	0
	2022	5	1
	2023	2	0
Total		104	36

Trophies and Awards

River Plate

Argentine Primera División: 2007–08 Clausura

Porto

Primeira Liga: 2010–11
Taça de Portugal: 2009–10, 2010–11
Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2009, 2010, 2011
UEFA Europa League: 2010–11

Atlético Madrid

Copa del Rey: 2012–13
UEFA Europa League: 2011–12
UEFA Super Cup: 2012

Monaco

Ligue 1: 2016–17

Colombia U20

South American Youth Championship: 2005

Individual Awards

South American Team of the Year: 2007
Portuguese Golden Ball: 2010–11
UEFA Europa League Top Scorer: 2010–11 (17 goals), 2011–12 (12 goals)
FIFA FIFPro World11: 2012
Globe Best Footballer: 2012
UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Month: August 2017
Coupe de la Ligue Top scorer: 2017–18 (3 goals)

Records

Colombia all-time top scorer: 36 goals
Top goal scorer of the UEFA Super Cup: 3 goals (shared with Arie Haan, Oleg Blokhin, Gerd Müller, Rob Rensenbrink, François Van der Elst, Terry McDermott, and Lionel Messi)
Only player to have scored a hat-trick in a single final of the UEFA Super Cup
Only player to score 4 goals in a UEFA Europa League knockout match
One of two players to win two consecutive UEFA Europa League titles with two different teams (shared with Marko Marin)
Most goals scored in a UEFA Europa League season: 17 goals
Most goals scored in the UEFA Europa League knockout stages: 20 goals
Most goals in a UEFA Europa League knockout tie: 5 goals (shared with Romelu Lukaku)
Most UEFA Europa League hat-tricks: 3 hat-tricks
Most goals scored in UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League finals: 3 goals
First Colombian footballer to reach the record of 350 goals in his entire career, an achievement achieved in the match between Millonarios vs Patriotas on September 1, 2024.