The Colombian, star striker, will represent his country this year after he lost Brazil 2014 for a tragic injury

Leer en español: Rusia 2018: El primer Mundial de Falcao

The "Tiger", as he is known by the fans, has gone through sweet and bitter moments in the course of his career. In the years leading up to the 2014 Brazil World Cup, Falcao was going through his best football period and was listed as the best forward center of the moment. With Atlético de Madrid, the club he represented at that time, the player became UEFA champion in 2012 and champion of the King's Cup of Spain for 2013. During those two years, the striker played 107 games scoring 80 goals; on average, Falcao scored 0.74 goals per game.

For the year 2013, the player integrated the ideal 11 of FIFA. In the South American qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup, Falcao helped to classify his country to the World Cup after more than a decade of absence, scoring nine goals and remaining as the third shipyard of the tournament.

In the 2013-2014 season, the athlete starred in a million-dollar transaction between Atlético de Madrid and Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club for 60 million Euros. That season, defending the French team's jersey, Falcao played 19 games and scored 11 goals. Everything pointed that the soccer player would fulfil his dream of representing Colombia in a World Cup.

However, on January 22, 2014, during a match against Chassela in the French Cup, at minute 41 of the game, defender Ertek caused a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

Because of that injury, Falcao was left out of the 2014 Brazil World Cup. This moment became one of the toughest for the "Tiger", since he went from being at the peak of his career to being limited to watch the World Cup on television.

Characteristics of Falcao are his charisma, perseverance, and willpower. The footballer began hopefully the preseason 2014-2015, but this sport would put him to the test. Wanting to get back on track, the player changed teams and moved to the English team Manchester United. However, Falcao's performance put his footballing performance in doubt as he scored four goals in 29 games. Without fulfilling the expectations for the following season, Falcao was transferred to Chelsea (English team), where he played 12 games and scored just one goal. The athlete closed that year with an average of 0.08 goals per game, the lowest of his entire career.

In the Copa América Chile 2015, Falcao played the first three games as a starter without being able to score a goal and lost the position in the semifinals where Colombia would be eliminated; both the selection and the player had a low performance.

However, soccer is a discipline of revenge and new opportunities. The 2016 – 2017 season was the moment where Falcao reunited with his game, that year he returned to Monaco. The squad is under the direction of Leonardo Jardim, who also bet on Falcao and put him at the head of the team as leader and captain. That year, Monaco was crowned champion of France after 17 years and it disputed the semi-final of the Champions League falling in the series against Juventus.

The "Tiger" is back

The "Tiger" returned to marauding the networks scoring 32 goals in 45 games, averaging 0.71 goals per game, also gave six assists. To the delight of football lovers and Colombians Radamel Falcao was back.

With the Colombian selection, the striker had not been able to resume his scoring streak. However, like all the greats players, Falcao appeared when his team needed him the most. In a very disputed playoffs, playing against Brazil, with an adverse result of 0-1, the scorer and figure of the selection would equalize the score and keep alive the possibility of qualifying for the World Cup 2018.

During the last game of the qualifiers, in a tense clash against Peru, the Colombian team tied and secured its place at the highest meeting of soccer world.

Currently, Falcao continues playing at Monaco and his scoring streak is still on. In 28 games played, the "tiger" has scored 22 goals, an average of 0.80 goals per game, the third highest of his career. This average is comparable with his years at Porto and Atlético de Madrid. In addition, Falcao is physically and mentally in a splendid condition, which generates many expectations in the Colombian fans.

Colombia, facing Russia 2018, not only has the return of the best version of Falcao, but with a selection full of excellent players like James Rodriguez, Juan Guillermo Cuadrado, David Ospina, and many others. Additionally, in this World Cup, the striker will have great challenges ahead, as Colombian selection will be in Group H where it will face the national teams of Senegal, Poland, and Japan.

If everything goes as expected, the debut of "Tiger" in a World Cup will be on June 19 against the selection of Japan, in the city of Saransk. There, the dreams of Falcao and the Colombian people will begin their battle for the World Cup.

Latin American Post | Juan Bastidas
Translated from " Rusia 2018: El primer Mundial de Falcao"