After two year-long search for the back of the net in a Colombian jersey, the wait is finally over for Radamel Falcao. With his 55th minute go-ahead goal in an international friendly against Spain on Wednesday, Falcao became the cafeteros’ all-time leading scorer in international play.
Wednesday’s goal was Falcao’s 26th goal for Colombia in 65 international games, breaking a tie with Arnoldo Iguarán, who scored 25 goals in 68 matches for Colombia from 1973 to 1993.
Falcao can’t rest easy if he wants to stay at the top, however; the much-younger James Rodríguez is already creeping up on El Tigre, with 19 goals in his own Colombian career. Despite not being a striker for club or country–he usually plays as a #10 for Colombian–the 25-year-old Real Madrid midfielder (for now) needs only a good showing between now and the end of the 2018 World Cup to pass Iguarán for second place. And if he repeats his 6-goal performance from 2014? Falcao might be back in second himself in no time.
As for Wednesday’s friendly, Falcao wasn’t the only one to make history, as his goal snapped a decade-long streak for Spain, who hadn’t conceded more than a single home at home since a match against the Ivory Coast in 2006. Unfortunately for Colombia, Falcao’s go-ahead strike wasn’t enough to nab the win, as a late equalizer by Spain striker Alvaro Morata secured a 2-2 draw for the hosts.