Atlético de Madrid fans have a ‘goal-den’ relationship with South America. In recent memory alone, the likes of Uruguay’s Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez, Argentinian Sergio Aguero, Colombia’s Radamel Falcao and Brazil-born Diego Costa have lit up the much-missed Estadio Vicente Calderon – or, in Suarez’s case, the Estadio Metropolitano – with their sharpshooting prowess.

Julian Alvarez is shaping up to be a worthy heir to these striking luminaries, who, along with other former Atlético fan favourites hailing from CONMEBOL countries, had set the bar high. Having arrived from Manchester City at the beginning of this season, the Argentinian is now one of the first names on compatriot Diego Simeone’s team sheet.

Spurred by the 24-year-old’s growing influence at the Metropolitano and his goalscoring ambitions ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™, in which Atlético will face Paris Saint-Germain, Seattle Sounders FC and Botafogo in Group B, FIFA explores the predatory exploits of Alvarez’s most recent continental counterparts at the Madrid outfit.

Although he has not been included in this rundown, an honourable mention goes to another of Alvarez’s countrymen, the long-serving Angel Correa, who remains at Atlético and has racked up 85 goals in some 450 appearances for the club.

Sergio Aguero: 101 goals in 234 matches (2006-11)

The fresh-faced fox in the box was an instant hit at Atlético after making the move from CA Independiente as an 18-year-old. After managing seven goals in his debut season, Aguero struck at least 20 times in each of the following four campaigns (26, 21, 20 and 27, respectively), leaving him with 101 goals for the club before his departure for Manchester City. His stay in Madrid was also marked by his first European forays and trophies, with Atleti tasting glory in the 2009-10 UEFA Europa League and 2010 UEFA Super Cup.

Diego Forlan: 96 goals in 198 matches (2007-11)

Forlan’s time at the Calderon overlapped heavily with Aguero’s, and the two formed a formidable partnership that was instrumental to the club’s aforementioned European double in 2010. Following a sparkling spell at Villarreal CF, Forlan fired on all cylinders for the Rojiblancos right away, notching 23 times in his maiden term at Atlético.

His second season, 2008-09, was even more productive: he bagged 35 goals, including 32 in the league – enough to top the La Liga charts and capture the European Golden Shoe. His final two campaigns respectively brought 28 and ten goals, as the Uruguayan wound up just five shy of his Argentinian accomplice’s tally for the club.

Diego Costa: 83 goals in 216 matches (2010-14 and 2017-20)

Costa teamed up with Aguero and Forlan at various points in 2010-11, chipping in with eight goals of his own to supplement their prolific performances. However, it was after their exits that he really came into his own, netting 20 times in 2012-13 and following that up with 36 goals the next season. That rise to prominence led to a tug of war to secure his international services, and the Lagarto-born attacker ended up representing his adopted homeland of Spain rather than his native country at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ and 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™.

While he never quite reached those early heights again at Atleti, Costa left the club once more in 2021 having made a mark on their all-time goalscoring table and scooped an impressive trophy haul across his two stints. As well as winning two La Liga titles and the Copa del Rey once,the burly target man also lifted the Europa League and enjoyed three UEFA Super Cup triumphs with the Colchoneros.

Radamel Falcao: 70 goals in 91 matches (2011-13)

The Colombian was parachuted in from FC Porto to lead the line for Atlético following the departures of Aguero and Forlan. He was in inspired form throughout his two seasons at the club, which yielded 36 and 34 goals in 50 and 41 appearances, respectively, plus three pieces of silverware: the 2011-12 Europa League, 2012 UEFA Super Cup and 2012-13 Copa del Rey. His goals-to-game ratio of 0.77 for the Colchoneros gives him comfortably the best hit rate at the club among this group of players.

Luis Suarez: 34 goals in 83 matches (2020-22)

The Inter Miami CF star could end up renewing acquaintances with Atlético in the round of 16 at this year’s Club World Cup, given that the Americans are in Group A and the Spaniards in Group B. Having joined the Rojiblancos from FC Barcelona as a 33-year-old, Suarez set about proving that age is just a number, scoring 21 goals in his first season – all in the league – to help Simeone’s side to the 2020-21 La Liga title. He bowed out from the Metropolitano the following campaign after adding 13 more strikes to his tally for the club.

Julian Alvarez: 16 goals in 31 matches (since 2024)

Alvarez has wasted no time in establishing himself as a mainstay under Simeone since swapping Manchester for Madrid in August 2024. The former CA River Plate forward has 16 goals in 31 games, including having plundered four goals in the Copa del Reyto go with his six apiece in La Ligaand the UEFA Champions League. Atlético are raring to make waves at the Club World Cup and Alvarez will undoubtedly be pivotal to their hopes.