Top 5 South American stars scoring goals in Europe: Too terrible with the number of top 1

The top 5 South American goal scorers in the top 5 European leagues since 2000 have witnessed several familiar names.

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South American players competing and shining in Europe have seen many outstanding names. They are an integral part of the top football leagues, including the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1 over many decades.

Currently, a total of 228 South American players are playing in the top 5 European leagues.

So, who is the South American player with the most goals in the top 5 European leagues since 2000? Statistics compiled by ESPN reveal:

5. Gonzalo Higuain (237 goals)

Gonzalo Higuain

Gonzalo Higuain arrived in Europe in 2007 and departed in 2020. He played for Real Madrid, Napoli, Juventus, AC Milan, and Chelsea, scoring a total of 237 goals.

4. Luis Suarez (248 goals)

Luis Suarez

Luis Suarez arrived in Europe from 2007 to 2022. Suarez played 110 matches in the Premier League for The Kop, scoring 69 goals. He won the Golden Shoe for the 2013-2014 season after scoring 31 goals.

After moving to Barcelona in 2014, he scored 195 goals in 283 appearances across all competitions. Suarez scored a total of 248 goals during his time in the top 5 European leagues.

3. Sergio Aguero - 259 goals

Sergio Aguero

Aguero arrived in Europe in 2006. The former Argentine international played 175 matches for Atletico, scoring 74 goals. Aguero won the Golden Boy in 2007 and was also honored as the Best Ibero-American Player in La Liga for the 2007-08 season.

Aguero moved to Man City in 2011, scoring 184 goals in 275 Premier League appearances for the Cityzens.

The Argentine player moved to Barcelona in 2021 but had to announce his retirement from professional football a few months later due to being diagnosed with a heart rhythm disorder.

2. Edinson Cavani - 267 goals

Edinson Cavani

Edinson Cavani joined Serie A club Palermo from Danubio FC in January after an impressive performance in the 2007 South American Youth Championship. He finished as the top scorer of the tournament 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 transfer in 2011. He scored 52 goals in 69 appearances for them. The forward left Napoli to join PSG in the summer of 2013. Cavani's most successful period in Europe came with the Parisian club, where he scored 138 goals in 200 appearances.

1. Lionel Messi - 496 goals

Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi is the greatest South American player to have ever played in Europe. The Argentine international spent the majority of his career with 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 player scored 73 goals across all competitions in the 2011-12 season, a record for the most goals in a single season in European football.

Messi left his youth club to join PSG in 2022. He played 58 matches at Parc des Princes, scoring 22 goals.