[PROFILE] Colombian Radamel Falcao, one of the most hotly pursued strikers in the world, broke a European scoring record when he scored his 16th goal of the season in the Europa League for Porto in its 3-2 loss to Villarreal that nonetheless sent it into the May 18 final against Portuguese rival Braga with a 7-4 aggregate win.

Falcao's 16 goals broke Juergen Klinsmann’s record of 15 UEFA Cup goals in a single season set during the 1995-96 UEFA Cup season with Bayern Munich.

Falcao, who had scored four of Porto's five goals in the first leg of the semifinals, has attracted the interest of Arsenal, Tottenham and Aston Villa in England, but he carries a release fee in his contract of $57 million.

Porto is considered one of the most successful clubs on the European transfer market, adept at importing South American talent and turning around and selling from for big profits.

Falcao, who is nicknamed "El Tigre," moved to Argentina club River Plate as a youth and then joined Porto in 2008 when it sold Argentine Lisandro Lopez to French club Lyon.

Only 25, Falcao is expected to lead Colombia at the 2011 Copa America.