South America has produced some football legends who have left a lasting impact on the sport. From Pele to Lionel Messi, and Ronaldo to Ronaldinho, these players have graced the pitch with their talent and skill.

South American players have a long history in European football, with many of them playing in the top five leagues – the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1. Currently, there are 228 South American players competing in these leagues.

Now, let’s find out who the top goal-scorer from South America in Europe’s top five leagues since 2000 is. Gonzalo Higuain takes the fifth spot with an impressive 237 goals.

(Source: Stats Perform via ESPN)

Argentina’s Gonzalo Higuain made a big entrance into Europe when he signed with Real Madrid in 2007 after leaving River Plate. With the Spanish team, he quickly proved himself as one of the top strikers in the world by scoring an impressive 107 goals in 190 league matches.

Higuain later made a move to Napoli in 2013, where he continued his scoring streak. During his time with the Italian club, he netted 71 goals in 104 Serie A appearances, setting a record for the most goals in a single season by scoring 36 times in just 35 games during the 2015-16 season.

In 2016, the talented striker made another transfer, this time to Juventus. He also had loan spells with AC Milan and Chelsea, winning the Capocannoniere for the 2015-16 season and earning spots in the UEFA Europa League Team of the Season twice. Throughout his career, Higuain has scored an impressive 237 league goals at the highest level before moving to the MLS club Inter Miami in 2020.

Coming in fourth on the list is Luis Suarez with 248 career goals.

After making a name for himself in his native country, Luis Suarez made the move to Ajax in 2007. He quickly became known as one of the most dangerous forwards in Europe during his time with the Dutch club before transferring to Liverpool in 2011.
During his 110 Premier League matches with the Reds, Suarez found the back of the net 69 times. His standout performance came in the 2013-14 season when he clinched the Golden Boot with 31 goals in just as many appearances.
The talented Uruguayan then made a switch to Barcelona in 2014, where he continued his impressive scoring streak at Camp Nou alongside superstars Lionel Messi and Neymar. Across all competitions, Suarez scored an impressive 195 goals in 283 matches.
Throughout his career in the top five European leagues, Suarez has scored a total of 248 league goals. He was honored with the La Liga Pichichi Trophy in the 2015-16 season after scoring 40 goals in 35 appearances and was a part of the FIFA FIFPro World XI in 2016.
In 2020, the Uruguayan striker left Barcelona to join Atletico Madrid where he spent two seasons before departing Europe in 2022.
3. Sergio Aguero – 259 goals

Sergio Aguero has scored a total of 259 goals in the top five European leagues, putting him in third place on the all-time list. His career began with high expectations when Atletico Madrid signed him from Independiente in 2006, and he quickly proved himself as one of the top attackers in Spain and beyond.

During his time at Atletico, Aguero netted 74 goals in 175 league games, earning accolades such as the Golden Boy award in 2007 and La Liga Ibero-American Player of the Year for the 2007-08 season. His journey continued with a move to Manchester City in 2011, where he scored an impressive 184 goals in 275 Premier League appearances.

Aguero’s achievements include winning the Premier League Golden Boot in the 2014-15 season and being selected for the Premier League Team of the Season twice. His unforgettable last-minute goal against QPR in 2012 secured Manchester City’s first Premier League title, etching his name in sporting history.

In 2021, Aguero made a move to Barcelona but unfortunately had to retire from professional football due to a cardiac arrhythmia diagnosis shortly after. Despite his career being cut short, his legacy as one of the greatest goalscorers in European football remains intact.

Edinson Cavani holds the second spot on the list with 267 goals, showcasing his prowess as a prolific striker in the top European leagues.

Edinson Cavani made the switch to Palermo in Serie A from Danubio F.C. in January following his outstanding performances at the 2007 South American Youth Championship, where he emerged as the top goal-scorer with seven goals in nine games.

While his start in Europe was a bit slow, Cavani eventually hit his stride during the 2008-09 season, finishing as Palermo’s top scorer in all competitions with 15 goals in 36 appearances. He notched a total of 34 goals in 109 league matches for the Sicilian outfit.

After a brief loan spell in 2010, Cavani secured a permanent move to Napoli in 2011, where he showcased his scoring prowess by netting 52 goals in just 69 games. His impressive form caught the attention of Paris Saint-Germain, where he enjoyed a fruitful spell, tallying 138 league goals in 200 appearances and helping the club secure multiple titles, including six Ligue 1 championships.

The talented striker has had his fair share of accolades, including winning the UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Season in 2016-17 and clinching the Ligue 1 Golden Shoe on two occasions.

Following stints with Manchester United and Valencia, Cavani currently plies his trade with Boca Juniors, continuing to showcase his goal-scoring prowess on the pitch.

Lionel Messi is widely regarded as the greatest South American footballer to have made his mark in Europe. The legendary Argentine began his impressive career at Barcelona, where he first stepped onto the pitch as a young 13-year-old in 2003.

Messi showcased his incredible talent over the years, playing a total of 520 league games for Barcelona and netting an impressive 474 goals. His collection of accolades includes eight La Liga Golden Boots, six European Golden Boots, and a remarkable eight Ballon d’Or awards.

One of Messi’s most memorable achievements was his record-breaking season in 2011-12 when he scored an astonishing 73 goals across all competitions, setting a new benchmark for goal-scoring in European football.

In a surprising turn of events, Messi bid farewell to his beloved Barcelona and made a move to French powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2022. During his time at the Parc des Princes, Messi appeared in 58 league matches, finding the back of the net 22 times.