South American footballers plying their trade in Europe have often showcased exceptional talent and skill, becoming integral parts of top-tier competitions such as the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1 over the decades.
Presently, there are a total of 228 South American footballers competing in the top 5 European leagues.
So, who are the South American players with the most goals in the top 5 European leagues since 2000? Statistics compiled by ESPN reveal:
5. Gonzalo Higuain (237 goals)
Gonzalo Higuain made his way to Europe in 2007 and departed in 2020. He played for Real Madrid (scoring 107 goals in 190 appearances in the top-flight league), Napoli (netting 71 goals in 104 Serie A matches), and Juventus in 2016, with loan spells at AC Milan and Chelsea (accumulating a total of 237 goals).
4. Luis Suarez (248 goals)
Luis Suarez arrived in Europe from 2007 to 2022. He played 110 Premier League matches for The Kop, scoring 69 goals. Suarez secured the Golden Boot for the 2013-2014 season after netting 31 goals.
Upon joining Barcelona in 2014, he scored 195 goals in 283 appearances across all competitions. Suarez tallied a total of 248 goals during his time in the top 5 European leagues.
3. Sergio Aguero – 259 goals
With 259 goals in the top 5 European leagues, Sergio Aguero sits in third place on this list.
Aguero arrived in Europe in 2006. The former Argentine international played 175 matches for Atletico, scoring 74 goals. Aguero clinched the Golden Boy award in 2007 and was also honored as the Best Ibero-American Player in La Liga for the 2007-08 season.
Aguero moved to Manchester City in 2011, scoring 184 goals in 275 Premier League appearances for the Cityzens.
The Argentine forward transferred to Barcelona in 2021 but had to announce his retirement from professional football after being diagnosed with a heart rhythm disorder a few months later.
2. Edinson Cavani – 267 goals
Edinson Cavani joined Serie A club Palermo from Danubio FC in January after an impressive performance in the South American Youth Championship 2007. He ended up as the tournament’s top scorer with seven goals in nine appearances. Cavani played 109 matches at Stadio Renzo Barbera, scoring 34 goals.
Cavani moved to Napoli on loan in 2010 before making a permanent move in 2011. He scored 52 goals in 69 appearances for them. The striker left Napoli to join PSG in the summer of 2013. Cavani’s most successful period in Europe came with Paris Saint-Germain, where he scored 138 goals in 200 appearances.
1. Lionel Messi – 496 goals
Lionel Messi is the greatest South American player to have ever played in Europe. The Argentine international spent the majority of his career at Barcelona, where he began his journey as a 13-year-old in 2003. Messi played 520 matches at Camp Nou, scoring 474 goals.
The Argentine forward netted 73 goals across all competitions in the 2011-12 season, a record for the most goals scored in a single season in European football.
Messi left his childhood club to join PSG in 2022. He played 58 matches during his time at Parc des Princes, scoring 22 goals.
