The last round of the Spanish championship left a legacy not only of the huge and celebrated goal achieved by Leo Messi, who with his brace against Betis reached the incredible number of 86 goals scored in a calendar year (already 88 after the two scored against Cordoba in the Copa del Rey), surpassing Gerd Muller's previous record of 85 goals, and with two more games available to further improve, but it was also an opportunity to celebrate yet another super performance by Radamel Falcao , which if it hadn't been for the Argentine's record would have deserved even more space on the front pages of the newspapers these days.
In fact, the amazing Colombian striker from Atletico Madrid never ceases to amaze and on the last day he was the absolute protagonist of the 6-0 victory with which the colchoneros defeated Deportivo, the number 9 scored 5 goals, his first five of his career, showing off all his varied personal repertoire. After scoring twice in the first half, the pokerissimo arrived in the second half thanks to a hat-trick in the space of 7 minutes, from 64 'to 71', an anthology handful that made him enter the history of the red and white in Madrid, equaling the record of Vavà (the Brazilian who made up the legendary trio with Didì and Pele), the only one with Atletico's shirt so far capable of scoring 5 goals in one match (against Zaragoza in 1958) in the almost 110 club years.
After the show on the pitch, the attacker presented himself in front of the journalists' microphones holding the match ball in his hand and thanked God for having experienced this type of match, he who is deeply religious and belongs to the evangelical group of the Athletes of Christ ( association in which we find numerous other players, such as Kakà, Felipe Melo, Cavani and Legrottaglie).
Among the ranks of the colchoneros the only one who had come close was Bobo Vieri, capable in '98 of scoring 4 times in Atletico-Salamanca, finished 4-5 for the guests, while, before Falcao, to sign a five in a Liga match was Fernando Morientes in 2002 in a match between his Real Madrid and Las Palmas, but the absolute record in the history of the Spanish championship still belongs to Ladislao Kubala, author of 7 goals for Barcelona in a meeting more than sixty years ago (1951-1952 season) between the blaugrana and Sporting Gijon finished 9 to 0.
With these five centres, Falcao has reached 16 goals in 15 league games, overtaking Cristiano Ronaldo who is still at 13, obviously ahead of all the usual Messi who has already reached 23 goals, and just in the next round, Sunday evening, the two phenomena they will find facing each other, given that Barcelona-Atletico is scheduled, the first in the class against the only ones who are trying to stay in the slipstream. It promises to be a spectacular match to say the least, with Messi who will receive the Colombian, capable so far of dragging his team with goals in an impossible run-up to the Blaugrana, a challenge between the one who in all probability in just under a month will receive the his fourth Ballon d'Or and what, if it hadn't happened in the same years as the Argentine and Ronaldo, he would certainly have won at least once.
It's a 2012 finale full of prizes and awards for the South American striker, voted by the readers of "As", one of the major Spanish sports newspapers, as the best striker of the year ahead of illustrious names, while the prestigious French magazine "Onze Mondial" awarded him the Bronze Onze, placing him in third place among the strongest militant players in the European championships (behind the usual Messi and Ronaldo). Furthermore, his spectacular overhead kick scored this summer in the friendly between Atletico and America de Calì, during an overseas tour of the Spaniards, was selected among the three finalist goals that will compete for the Puskas Award, for the most beautiful goal prize of the year. The election will take place on January 7 in Zurich and Falcao will have to deal with the Brazilian star of Santos Neymar and the Slovakian midfielder of Fenerbahce Miroslav Stoch, authors of two other great goals this year.
Radamel Falcao, nicknamed El Tigre for his hunger in the penalty area, 177cm by 75kg. of strength and explosiveness, he is one of the most complete strikers of recent years, the classic number 9, an old-fashioned but also modern striker, capable of moving across the entire front of attack and making the department alone, but above all with an innate sense of the goal and an incredible coldness in front of goal. With his physical overwhelming power and rapidity in his movements he drives his opponents crazy, he has fantastic acceleration which, combined with his competitive wickedness, often makes him uncatchable for any defender, furthermore his great technique and athleticism allow him to make spectacular acrobatic gestures that often turn into splendid finalizations (several of his goals in half reverses or played on the fly). Among his lethal weapons also the header, thanks to a crazy take which, despite his stature, allows him to reach much higher than many other attackers, completing this perfect machine the indistinct use of both feet and a shot which sometimes seems to break through the net.
Radamel Falcao Garcia Zarate, son of art, born in Santa Marta on February 10, 1986 and named in honor of the former Giallorossi idol Paulo Roberto Falcao, after taking his first steps in the world of football, very young, in the Colombian minor leagues, he makes himself known to the general public with his goals in Argentina with the historic River Plate shirt, it is there that he attracts the interest of Porto (one of the best teams in finding talent in South America), which for just over 5 million euro lands it in Europe. Arrived in Portugal as a good striker, with the Dragones shirt he explodes in all his strength, forming a 73-goal duo with the Brazilian Hulk in the second season, the one in which he practically single-handedly wins the Europa League establishing the new scoring record in a single edition of a UEFA competition.
With Porto he wins practically everything, then last year the move for 40 million to Atletico Madrid with which he confirms himself as an extraordinary bomber, closing the first season in La Liga with 24 goals and triumphing again in the Europa League, signing a brace in the final , tournament in which he is again top scorer. He inaugurates this season by spreading Chelsea with a tremendous hat-trick in the European Super Cup in Montecarlo, then gradually more braces and hat-tricks up to the feat of a few days ago, which once again caused an exponential surge in the number on his card.
The Colombian, whose contract expires in 2016, seems in fact destined to inevitably leave Atletico Madrid sooner or later, being the object of desire of half of Europe, sought after by all the best clubs ready to go crazy to have him among their own ranks. Recently, among others, Chelsea have taken an interest in him (apparently concrete offers close to or even higher than 50 million euros have already arrived), with the new coach Rafa Benitez who would jump through hoops to swap him for Fernando Torres (l 'former idol of Atletico fans, who would return to the team that launched him) and Mancini's Manchester City, perhaps in place of the inconstant Balotelli. Falcao has already hinted that he is attracted by an adventure in the Premier League, but Paris Saint Germain and even city rivals Real have also come forward for his performances, with Mourinho who would make false cards to have him.
Spanish rumors also revealed an amusing little curtain by the way, which happened last Monday during the gala evening for the delivery of the "As" award, in which all the leading personalities of Spanish football were present. During the ceremony, many would have noticed the suffocating pressing of the president of Real Florentino Perez against the star of the cousins, this would not be the first time that the number one of the merengues takes advantage of these opportunities to overcome the guard of the prosecutors and address the players directly , in fact, he remembers when in a similar situation he is said to have sent Zidane a note to convince him to wear the Real shirt (and we all know how it went).
Atletico Madrid, therefore, know that it will be almost impossible to keep him, but already someone in the club is rubbing their hands thinking about the check that will be able to enter the coffers of the colchoneros, well above the 40 million spent two summers ago, figures by now prohibitive for any of our clubs and the dream of seeing a tiger in our league.
