Radamel Falcao García

Radamel Falcao

Personal information
Full name	Radamel Falcao García Zárate
Date of birth	10 February 1986 (age 25)
Place of birth	Santa Marta, Colombia
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position	Striker
Club information
Current club	Atlético Madrid
Number	9
Youth career
1996–2000	Millonarios
2001–2004	River Plate
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2005–2009	River Plate	90	(34)
2009–2011	Porto	51	(41)
2011–	Atlético Madrid	10	(7)
National team‡
2007–	Colombia	32	(10)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21 November 2011. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 6 September 2011

This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is García and the second or maternal family name is Zárate.

Radamel Falcao García Zárate (born 10 February 1986), commonly known simply as Falcao, is a Colombian football striker who currently plays for Atlético Madrid.

He 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 Porto to a second UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League title, as well as finishing undefeated in the 2010–11 Primeira Liga season. In July of 2011, Falcao was regarded as the fifth best player in Europe during the 2010–11 season through balloting by 53 sportswriters of the UEFA member associations.

Radamel prefers to be called by his second name. He is known for 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."^[1]