Falcao living a dream

Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao said being a professional footballer was realising a childhood dream.

The former Porto ace has been in great form this season and is currently the leading goalscorer in Spain’s La Liga with seven goals, ahead of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who are both on six.

“My father always told me to play with my heart, and to play up front, as a forward, they make the most money,” he told Cuatro.

“Since I remember I have always been with a football.

“As a child I had the dream of being a professional and it took years of hard work to get there, but I got there. God has given me the talent and the health to play football.”

Despite his headline-grabbing displays in recent months, the striker did concede he cannot compete with Shakira in the popularity stakes in his homeland.

He joked: “Shakira is more important than me in Colombia.”