By RIK SHARMA
On the day Lionel Messi broke Gerd Muller’s record of 85 goals in a calendar year, Radamel Falcao reminded us all of his claim to be the world’s best striker.
The 26-year-old Colombian hotshot scored five times as Atletico Madrid trashed Deportivo La Coruna 6-0.
As forwards go, you cannot rival the Argentine genius but if you are looking for a ‘pure’ striker, Falcao is hard to beat.
Brilliant in the air, composed from the penalty spot and lethal from all angles and ranges, it seems nobody can handle him.
When Messi scored his second against Real Betis, to break Muller’s record, it took him to 30 goals in 23 games for Barcelona this season.
Falcao has been scoring at a similar rate – 19 goals in 15 games for Atletico is not to be sniffed at. If he keeps this up next year he could be in with a chance of contesting Messi’s new record.
While Chelsea will be encouraged that Fernando Torres has grabbed four goals this a week, they will no doubt be salvating now their primary January transfer window target has hit five in a single game.
In his first goal he showed the basics of clinical finishing, the second demonstrated his penchant for the spectacular.
He coolly sent the goalkeeper the wrong way from the spot for No 3 and then bravely dived in to get his fourth.
By the time Falcao grabbed the fifth, Deportivo were in pieces, but he still showed strength to turn under pressure and then blast home.
If he does show up at Stamford Bridge in January, unlike previous expensive acquisitions Torres and Andriy Shevchenko, this will be a player at his peak and worth the price tag. Beware.
