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FIFA World Cup 2014: Five facts on Gonzalo Higuain

Gonzalo Higuain was the scorer of Argentina’s winning goal against Belgium

Brazil: Five facts on Gonzalo Higuain, scorer of Argentina's winning goal in their World Cup quarter final 1-0 triumph over Belgium:

  • The Napoli striker scored his first goal of this World Cup to take his country into the semi-finals. It was his fifth in all World Cup finals — level with Lionel Messi — and 21st in all internationals.
  • Higuain was born in the French port of Brest, where his father Jorge was a professional footballer. He still has a French passport, but chose to play for Argentina in 2007.
  • He is one of only three foreign-born players to have taken part in the World Cup for Argentina. Higuain is also one of only three Argentines — after Guillermo Stabile in 1930 and Gabriel Batistuta in 1998 — to score a hat trick in the World Cup finals. He hit three against South Korea in the group stage of the 2010 tournament.
  • After seven seasons at Real Madrid, Higuain moved to Napoli for a reported 40 million euros just before the 2013-14 season. After one year, and 17 Serie A goals, he has already been linked with a move to Real's bitter rivals Barcelona and he said last month it would be an "enormous pleasure" to play alongside compatriot Lionel Messi.
  • Higuain was Real's top scorer with 22 Spanish league goals in 2008-09 and again the following season with 27. He finished ahead of Real team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo and only Messi beat him in La Liga.
( Source : AFP )
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