Radamel Falcao
A predatory striker whose aerial mastery and clinical finishing in the box made him one of the most feared goal-poachers of his generation.
Born 1986 (age 40)·Colombian footballer·Birthday: February 10·Millennials
Biography
Radamel Falcao García's rise from the riverine port city of Santa Marta to the pinnacle of European football is the stuff of Colombian legend. Nicknamed 'El Tigre' for his lethal instincts, Falcao announced himself to the world not in Spain's La Liga, but in Portugal with Porto, where he shattered records under manager André Villas-Boas. His 2011 Europa League final performance, where he scored the only goal in a victory over Braga, was a mere prelude to a staggering 17-goal campaign that delivered the trophy and announced a new king of the competition. A big-money move to Atlético Madrid followed, where he conquered Spain and Europe again, winning the Copa del Rey and another Europa League. While serious knee injuries at Monaco curtailed what many believed was a trajectory toward the Ballon d'Or, Falcao's resilience defined his later career. He became Colombia's all-time leading scorer, a symbol of national pride whose goals propelled Los Cafeteros to their first World Cup quarterfinal in nearly three decades.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Radamel was born in 1986, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Radamel Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Radamel's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won back-to-back UEFA Europa League titles in 2011 and 2012 with Porto and Atlético Madrid, setting the single-season competition scoring record (17 goals) in 2011.
- Became the all-time top scorer for the Colombia national team.
- Led Atlético Madrid to a Copa del Rey victory in 2013, scoring two goals in the final against Real Madrid.
- Won league titles in three different countries: Portugal (Porto), France (Monaco), and Turkey (Galatasaray).
Did You Know?
His nickname 'El Tigre' was given to him by his father, also a professional footballer, after a Colombian striker from the 1970s and 80s.
He scored a hat-trick for Atlético Madrid against Chelsea in the 2012 UEFA Super Cup.
He is a devout Christian and has a tattoo of a cross and the phrase 'God Never Fails' on his arm.
“I have always said that the best goal is the next one.”
