South America has produced some iconic football stars who have left their mark on the game. Players like Pele, Lionel Messi, Ronaldo, Diego Maradona, and Ronaldinho are among the legendary talents hailing from the continent.

South American players have long been a prominent presence in European football, featuring prominently in the top five leagues including the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1. Currently, there are a total of 228 South American players competing in these elite leagues.

Now, the question arises – who holds the title of the greatest South American goal-scorer in Europe’s top five leagues since the year 2000? Let’s dive in and find out.

(Data source: Stats Perform via ESPN)

At number five on the list is Gonzalo Higuain, who has scored an impressive 237 goals during his time in Europe’s top leagues.

Argentina’s Gonzalo Higuain made his mark in European football when he transferred from River Plate to Real Madrid in 2007. He quickly became known as one of the best strikers in the world during his time with Los Blancos, scoring an impressive 107 goals in 190 league games.

In 2013, Higuain made the move to Napoli, where he continued his goal-scoring prowess. He netted 71 goals in 104 Serie A matches for the Italian club, breaking records with an outstanding 36 goals in 35 games during the 2015-16 season.

After his successful stint with Napoli, the talented striker joined Juventus in 2016, later having loan spells at AC Milan and Chelsea. Higuain’s accomplishments include winning the Capocannoniere in the 2015-16 season and being named in the UEFA Europa League Team of the Season twice, showcasing his talent at the highest level with a total of 237 league goals.

In 2020, Higuain made a move across the pond to join MLS side Inter Miami, adding a new chapter to his illustrious career.

After showcasing his talent in his native land, Luis Suarez made a move to Ajax in 2007. He quickly became known as one of the most deadly forwards in Europe during his time with the Dutch club before transferring to Liverpool in 2011.
During his 110 games in the Premier League with the Reds, Suarez found the back of the net 69 times. His standout performance in the 2013-14 season earned him the Golden Boot after scoring an impressive 31 goals in just as many appearances.
In the summer transfer window of 2014, the Uruguayan striker left Liverpool to join Barcelona. He continued his scoring prowess at Camp Nou, forming a formidable trio with Lionel Messi and Neymar, scoring a total of 195 goals in 283 games across all competitions.
Throughout his career in the top five European leagues, Suarez has scored a total of 248 league goals. He clinched the La Liga Pichichi Trophy in the 2015-16 season by scoring an outstanding 40 goals in 35 matches and was also named in the FIFA FIFPro World XI in 2016.
Suarez bid farewell to Barcelona in 2020 and moved to Atletico Madrid, where he spent two seasons before departing Europe in 2022.
3. Sergio Aguero – 259 goals

Sergio Aguero has scored an impressive 259 goals in Europe’s top five leagues, placing him third on the all-time list. Hailing from South America, Aguero’s talent was evident when Atletico Madrid signed him from Independiente in 2006. His arrival in Spain marked the beginning of a successful career, with the striker quickly establishing himself as one of the best in the league and beyond.

During his time at Atletico, Aguero played 175 league matches and netted 74 goals. He received accolades such as the Golden Boy award in 2007 and La Liga Ibero-American Player of the Year for the 2007-08 season. This was just the start of his remarkable journey.

In 2011, Aguero made a high-profile transfer to Manchester City, where he continued his goal-scoring prowess. He scored 184 goals in 275 Premier League games for the Cityzens and clinched the Premier League Golden Boot in the 2014-15 season. Aguero was also named in the Premier League Team of the Season twice.

His unforgettable last-second goal against QPR in 2012 secured Manchester City’s first Premier League title and remains a significant moment in sports history. Despite his successful career, Aguero had to retire from football in 2021 due to a cardiac arrhythmia diagnosis.

In contrast, Edinson Cavani has scored 267 goals, ranking slightly higher than Aguero on the list of top goal-scorers in the top five European leagues.

After showcasing his talent at the 2007 South American Youth Championship, Edinson Cavani made the move to Serie A club Palermo from Danubio F.C. in January. Despite a slow start in Europe, he eventually found his stride during the 2008-09 season, becoming Palermo’s top scorer with 15 goals in 36 appearances. Cavani continued his impressive goal-scoring form at Napoli, where he scored 52 goals in 69 appearances, establishing himself as one of Serie A’s top strikers.

In 2013, Cavani made a move to Paris Saint-Germain and went on to become their all-time top goal-scorer with 138 league goals in 200 appearances, helping the club secure numerous major trophies, including six Ligue 1 titles. He was also named the UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Season for the 2016-17 campaign and won the Ligue 1 Golden Shoe twice during his time in France.

Following spells with Manchester United and Valencia, Cavani joined Boca Juniors in 2023, where he currently plays. Lionel Messi holds the record for the most goals scored with 496 goals.

Lionel Messi is widely regarded as the best South American player to have graced European football. The talented Argentine made his debut for Barcelona at the age of just 13 in 2003 and went on to have a remarkable career at Camp Nou.

During his time at Barcelona, Messi played a total of 520 league games and netted an impressive 474 goals. His collection of accolades includes eight La Liga Golden Boots, six European Golden Boots, and eight Ballon d’Or awards.

One of Messi’s most remarkable achievements was scoring 73 goals in all competitions during the 2011-12 season, setting a new record for the most goals scored in a single European football season.

In a surprising move, Messi departed his beloved Barcelona to join Paris Saint-Germain in the summer transfer window of 2022. While at the Parc des Princes, Messi featured in 58 league matches and found the back of the net 22 times.