TALAVERA DE LA REINA: Kylian Mbappe moved tantalisingly close to Cristiano Ronaldo’s calendar-year scoring record for Real Madrid with a brace as they earned a 3-2 victory at third-tier Talavera de la Reina on Wednesday to reach the Copa del Rey’s last 16 after a pulsating encounter.
The French striker’s two goals, combined with an own-goal by defender Manuel Farrando, proved enough despite late strikes from Nahuel Arroyo and Gonzalo Di Renzo that threatened to spoil Real’s evening in front of a raucous crowd.
Mbappe, who came into the game with 56 goals scored in all competitions in 2025, is now just one goal shy of the 59-goal calendar-year record set by Ronaldo in 2013.
With one match still to play this year – on Saturday against struggling Sevilla in LaLiga at Santiago Bernabeu – the French forward could surpass the Portuguese great.