For a continent whose local leagues have long been plagued by financial instability and corruption claims, South America has produced its fair share of world-class footballers.

By Gabriel Tan

Players like Pele, Diego Maradona, Carlos Valderrama and Ivan Zamorano are all recognized as all-time greats of the game, while the likes of Lionel Messi, Kaka and Luis Suarez are currently regarded as some of the best players on the planet.

Interestingly though, South Americans, barring a few exceptions, have largely failed to set the Premier League alight. Perhaps it has to do with the fact that the physical nature of the English game often negates Latin flair.

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Colombian Faustino Asprilla is therefore a rare breed - a South American who is considered a bonafide legend in England.

In February 1996, long before transfer windows restricted season-long player movement, Newcastle, battling Manchester United tooth and nail for the Premier League title, splashed out a then-princely sum of £6.7million for the services of the diminutive Asprilla.

The then 26-year-old arrived at St James Park on the back of three seasons in Serie A with Parma where he won a UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, a UEFA Super Cup in 1993, and a UEFA Cup in 1994. On the international scene, he was already an established player in the Colombian set-up.

Yet, no one expected the impact Asprilla would make on his debut, when he came on as a substitute at the Riverside Stadium, with Middlesbrough leading Newcastle 1-0. He contributed immediately, laying on an assist for the Magpies' equaliser before they went on to win the game 2-1.

While his time at Newcastle was blighted by off-field incidents, there was no doubting that once he took the pitch, Asprilla was something the Premier League had never witnessed before. His jinking runs and pure, unbridled skill set the standard that the likes of Thierry Henry, Cristiano Ronaldo and Fernando Torres would follow.

However, for someone who became one of the South American pioneers in the English game, it was ironically on a European night in 1997 that Asprilla etched his name in Newcastle folklore.

 Up against the Catalan might of Barcelona in their opening Champions League Group C tie, Newcastle raced to a 3-0 lead under 49 minutes, with all three goals coming off the boot of Asprilla.

After completely dominating early proceedings, Newcastle found the breakthrough in the 22nd minute, after Asprilla raced onto a through-ball, only to be brought down in the box by Barca keeper Ruud Hesp. Referee Pierluigi Collina pointed to the spot, Asprilla picked himself up, and clinically dispatched the penalty past the Dutch custodian - 1-0 Newcastle.

Nine minutes later, Keith Gillespie tore down the right flank and delivered a delicious cross. Leaping highest amidst a mass of players, Asprilla powered a header past Hesp to double Newcastle's lead.

And then four minutes after the restart, Gillespie went on yet another blinding run down the right, before again putting in a delightful centre. Once more, Asprilla outjumped his opponents to nod home his third of the night. 49 minutes gone, Newcastle 3-0 Barcelona.

While Luis Enrique and Luis Figo did pull two goals back for the Catalan giants, the three points went Newcastle's way. And the night - rightfully - belonged to Asprilla.

Despite it being 14 years ago, the man himself still remembers the events from the game vividly, and the significance of that victory is not lost on him.

"It was a very good game, but it was just a normal game because it wasn't like we won a trophy from it," Asprilla told EPL Talk. "It was though a very well-played game by Newcastle.

"Obviously I'm very proud of scoring a hat-trick against Barcelona because it's a well-remembered thing and part of Newcastle's history.

Neither side qualified for the knockout round from Group C. Poor results in their other games against Dynamo Kiev and PSV Eindhoven saw Newcastle finish third on seven points, while Barca were a further two points behind at the bottom of the group.

However, that wonderful European night against Barcelona turned out to be the last highlight of Asprilla's Newcastle career. Inconsistency on the field, and reports of late nights out partying off it eventually saw Toon manager Kenny Dalglish lose his patience with the talented Colombian. By the end of that season, Asprilla had returned to Parma.

But despite the abrupt end to his time on Tyneside, Asprilla is still held in high regard by many associated with the club, none more so than Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi, who has been at the club since 1995 and is endeared by the fans as a Geordie through and through.

In fact, Ameobi describes that one magical night against Barcelona as the moment he knew he wanted to be a footballer, having previously held no real aspirations to turn professional.

"I remember the night that changed," Ameobi told the Independent.

"I was sitting in the East Stand Paddock where all the academy boys sat, on the night [in September 1997] that Faustino Asprilla scored his hat-trick against Barcelona.

"I was 15, and I remember saying to myself, 'This is what I'm going to do'. "

"Seeing the joy that game brought to so many people - that was very profound on me."

Despite his reclusive nature, Asprilla is still sometimes sighted at St James Park on match days, showing that it wasn't just Newcastle who took to him - he too developed a love for the club.

And Asprilla reveals the fans still give him a warm reception despite his relatively short stay at the club.

"Even though I only played for one-and-a-half years, I get a very warm welcome every time I come here, and it's good to know the fans still remember what I did for the club.

"It's great to come back to a place where you know you're welcome.

"It's great for me to come to Newcastle and get admiration from people who may never have seen me play but still recognise me and know what I did."

Younger fans will not have had the opportunity of witnessing Asprilla in his prime, terrorising Premier League defences with his silky skills which belied his ungainly running style.

Yet the legacy he left behind is omnipresent in England's top flight these days, with the likes of Luis Suarez, David Silva, Nani and Luka Modric all thrilling crowds week in, week out. These days, a player brimming with flair seems fairly commonplace. 14 years ago, it was a luxury that only a few clubs possessed.

Newcastle were lucky to have one of the very best.