Rejuvenated striker Radamel Falcao was on Friday handed an international recall by Colombia after a year's absence from the squad for two key World Cup qualifiers.
The 30-year-old Monaco star hit two goals in a 3-0 midweek Champions League win over CSKA Moscow to take his total to six in nine games this season.
Falcao, who missed the 2014 World Cup finals through injury, last played for Colombia on October 13, 2015, in a 3-0 loss to Uruguay in Montevideo.
But he has been recalled for the qualifiers against Chile and Argentina on November 10 and 16 respectively.
"Happy to represent my country," the striker tweeted. "It's an opportunity that I will meet with a lot of enthusiasm. It's really special."
For the first time in a long while, things were looking up for Radamel Falcao.
Falcao, who rose to fame at Atletico Madrid, may still miss this Saturday's Ligue 1 clash with Angers but should return to face Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Tuesday.
It wasn't quite Harald Schumacher on Patrick Battiston in the 1982 World Cup, but there is no doubt that Cardinale came in with some serious force.
Leonardo Jardim, Monaco's manager, confirmed on Thursday that Falcao had remained in hospital where he continues to receive treatment for concussion.
To add insult to genuine injury, per English Ligue 1 journalist Jonathan Johnson, the foul was actually awarded against Falcao.
And Jardim voiced his dismay with the referee's decision not to penalise Cardinale for reckless behaviour, calling for stricter rules for custodians.
Monaco's Colombian striker Radamel Falcao has spent the night in hospital under observation after suffering a heavy blow to his head.
'The referees have to pay closer attention and punish actions like this.
"In most places in Europe that's a red card", said Jardim.
'When a player takes such a risk [to injure an opponent], there has to be some sort of punishment'.
The Monaco striker was caught in a sandwich between goalkeeper Yoann Cardinale and defender Paul Baysse just before half-time in the 4-0 defeat at Nice.
In the video above you can witness Radamel Falcao scoring quite possibly the flukiest goal in football history.
Following two failed loan spells at Manchester United and Chelsea , the Colombian is not only back with Monaco, but he's also back to scoring goals. Must have been something in the English water...
After bagging FIVE in pre-season, the same amount he scored in the Premier League over two years, Falcao also scored in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
Although, the manner of the goal is a sight to behold.
"I'm baaaaack."
After the Fenerbahce keeper initially takes the ball away from his feet, the ball somehow pinballs off a defender and back into Falcao's path with nothing but an open goal for him to aim at.
Not even the former Atletico Madrid striker can miss that.
Who will Antonio Conte keep and who will he sell in his first transfer window in English football.
Antonio Conte will be looking to put his own stamp on the Chelsea squad when he officially takes over this summer.
The Blues made a diabolical defence of their Premier League title last season as they were out of the running before Christmas and facing a relegation battle.
Jose Mourinho paid the price for the club’s terrible form as he was given the boot by Roman Abramovich in December and now looks set to join Manchester United.
Interim boss Guus Hiddink steered the club away from the prospect of dropping into the Championship but Chelsea could only limp towards the finish line.
Having under-performed so badly this term, several Stamford Bridge stars could be following Mourinho out the door while new blood is needed to rejuvenate the team.
It could be the busiest summer transfer window in years with Conte preparing to splash the cash in order to restore the west Londoners to the upper echelons of English football.
Here Matt Lewis of GetWestLondon takes a look at how events could play out at the Bridge in the coming months.
Heading for the exit
Radamel Falcao will leave the Bridge
Hiddink is the first name on the list of departures as the Dutchman steps down as manager to make way for the incoming Conte.
Chelsea’s strike-force requires major surgery and there will be casualties after a shot-shy season in front of goal.
Alexandre Pato and Radamel Falcao's embarrassing loans will not be renewed after the once great European forces looked shadows of their former selves in west London.
Frenchman Loic Remy is also likely to go and would only remain at the Bridge as a third or fourth choice option under Conte.
Baba Rahman was a big-money summer acquisition from the Bundesliga but failed to live up to his reputation and is wanted by clubs in Turkey.
John Obi Mikel was brought out of the wilderness by Hiddink in the second half of the season but the Nigerian will not accept another stint on the bench.
Nemanja Matic’s body language has indicated his time at Chelsea is coming to an end and could be one of Mourinho’s first signings as United manager.
Who is staying?
John Terry in action for Chelsea
John Terry's contract renewal was arguably the most important signing Chelsea will make this summer.
The emotional scenes as the captain, leader, legend took to the field at the end of term to address the crowd emphasised the incredible bond between Terry and the fans.
Conte gave his seal of approval to the offer for the skipper and will hope Terry can help keep the lines of communication open between the players and the management.
Eden Hazard looked a certainty to quit the club just a few months ago, with Real Madrid eager to snap up 2015’s Player of the Year, but things change quickly in football.
Having returned to fitness, the Belgian finished the season by ending Tottenham’s title dream and now heads to the European Championships in confident mood.
Branislav Ivanovic had been touted as a target for Roma but signed a new one-year contract to commit his immediate future to the club.
Uncertain futures
Could Thibaut Courtois been on his way out of Chelsea?
Thibaut Courtois is very much on Real Madrid’s radar and is another Chelsea player who cannot look back fondly on last season.
Chelsea put their faith in Courtois by allowing Petr Cech to join Arsenal last summer but an injury-hit, below-par campaign was not what they expected from their chosen one.
His failure to distance himself from the Madrid rumours only fuelled the speculation linking him with a return to Spain and angered the Blues faithful.
Courtois played in Madrid on loan at Atletico, where he first came across Diego Costa, and the fiery striker also continues to be targeted by his former club and Chinese sides.
Juventus have sounded out Chelsea over a move for Oscar and also want to keep hold of Juan Cuadrado after the Colombian’s successful loan stint.
Who is coming in?
Will we see Gonzalo Higuain in a royal blue shirt next season?
Conte has a long summer shopping list and has already submitted a list of his preferred options to the board.
The new boss has been given the title of head coach rather than manager and will not have total control over transfers.
He is desperate to sign another striker though to ease the burden on Costa as Chelsea's other three strikers leave the Bridge.
Romelu Lukaku is being considered for a return while Gonzalo Higuain and Alvaro Morata are also on the hitlist.
Roma’s tenacious midfielder Radja Nainggolan will replace Matic as the club’s midfield enforcer and is already understood to have agreed a deal in principle.
Conte would also like to raid his former club Juventus for defensive stalwart Leonardo Bonucci while Greek international Kostas Manolas is another candidate at the back.
José Mourinho is close to be appointed as new Manchester United boss. The Special One hopes he’s not going to repeat the same mistakes he did while in charge at Chelsea. Here there are his biggest regrets:
JUAN MATA – The Spaniard was acquired by the Blues for € 26 million before Mourinho’s arrival. The Special One regularly preferred Hazard, Oscar and Willian over him, agreeing on his sale to Manchester United for € 44 million. They are going to meet at the Old Trafford again next season.
DAVID LUIZ – Never considered a key player by Mou, David Luiz was sold to PSG for € 50 million in 2014, but no one has ever shown to be good enough to fill the Brazilian defender’s boots at the Stamford Bridge since then.
KEVIN DE BRUYNE – Probably Mourinho’s biggest regret. The Portguese manager did not lose any sleep over the Belgium International’s € 22-million sale to Wolfsburg in 2014, though the Red Devils’ biggest rivals Manchester City acquired De Bruyne one year later for € 74 million. The manager and the player were also not on good terms in South-West London as De Bruyne has recently accused Mourinho of not believing in him during his time at Chelsea.
FILIPE LUIS – He replaced Ashley Cole in 2014 after completing a € 20 million move from Atletico Madrid. Spain International Cesar Azpilicueta was regularly playing instead of the Brazilian defender who moved back to the Calderon last summer. He will start in the Champions League final next Saturday.
MOHAMMED SALAH – The former Basel star could only score two goals in 13 appearances before moving on a loan deal to Fiorentina and AS Roma (on a permanent deal). Mourinho did not confirm the Egypt International despite a very positive six-month loan spell at the Franchi, selling him to the giallorossi in the summer.
RADAMEL FALCAO – Everything went bad for the Colombian striker during his two-year spell in the Premier League. He failed to live up to expectations both with Chelsea and Manchester United also due to a huge number of injuries.
JUAN CUADRADO – Another Colombian player who did not shine under the Special One in London, but who has been proving his talent somewhere else, namely at the J Stadium with Juventus. Antonio Conte will welcome him back at the Stamford Bridge after he played a vital role in helping the Old Lady to win two domestic titles this season.
Chelsea striker Radamel Falcao has set his sights on finding a club that can offer him regular first-team football as his time at Stamford Bridge draws to a close.
The 30-year-old has endured a disappointing loan spell with the Blues since sealing a switch from Monaco last summer, scoring just once in the Premier League this term due to a combination of poor form and injury.
Falcao looks set to leave Chelsea at the end of the season when his loan deal expires, and the Colombia international has admitted he wants to find a club that will allow him to play every week while also revealing he saw a move back to South America fall through in January.
"I wanted to come to River [Plate] in January, but they did not have a foreign player spot open," he told Fox Sports.
"Right now my priorities are clear, I want to play every weekend because I am feeling good. I need to go somewhere I can play."
Falcao was this week left out of Jose Pekerman's Colombia squad for the centenary edition of the Copa America in the USA this summer.
The striker believes his omission was justified, but admits he wants to represent his nation at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in August.
"Now is not the right time for me to be at the Copa because I am not playing," he said.
"I want to go to the Olympics, but I don't want people to misinterpret that, journalists or anyone.
"The decision will be made later and I will be the first one to know if I am in or not because I want to be a key part of the team, to contribute and not embarrass myself.
"If I see I can help and if I am fit and playing all the time it is obviously easier."
