Kylian Mbappe Moves Ever Closer to Cristiano Ronaldo as Real Madrid Secure Nervy Win

Kylian Mbappe emerged as the hero of the match as Real Madrid secured a hard-fought victory over third-tier side CF Talavera in their Copa del Rey Round-of-32 meeting. 

Mbappe scored a brace and engineered the third one in Los Blancos’ 3-2 victory at the Estadio El Prado.

Mbappe, who hopes to lead France to the biggest share of the 2026 World Cup prize pool, now needs only one goal to match Cristiano Ronaldo’s best-ever year for Real Madrid.

Kylian Mbappe Moves Within One Goal of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Real Madrid Record

Ahead of Wednesday’s Copa del Rey clash, Xabi Alonso downplayed the significance of Kylian Mbappe’s pursuit of Cristiano Ronaldo’s record.

It was expected that Mbappe would be rested for the game, but the Frenchman not only started the game but also played the full 90.

Mbappe got a sniff of the goal in the third minute, as Endrick found him inside the box with a curling pass. Jaime Gonzalez, however, read the play well and pounced to take the ball away from the 26-year-old.

In the 40th minute, Marcos Moreno gave away a penalty after nodding the ball into his own elbow. The following minute, Mbappe buried the ball from the spot to make it 1-0 for Real Madrid.

Third division goal keeper Jamie Gonzalez says he plans to frame his gloves he used against Real Madrid pic.twitter.com/XUd46KUU6u

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 17, 2025

Five minutes later, Madrid went 2-0 up as Mbappe’s cutback into the box took a deflection off Manuel Farrando and went past the goal line.

In the 80th minute, Nahuel Arroyo pulled one goal back for the visitors, setting up a nervy finish for the 20-time Copa del Rey winners.

Eight minutes later, Mbappe restored his team’s two-goal cushion, as his low, hard shot squeezed past the goalkeeper. Talavera got another back in injury time, but Madrid held on to secure the win.

With Wednesday’s brace, Mbappe has now scored 58 goals for Real Madrid in 2025. Only the club’s all-time scorer, Ronaldo, scored more, with him netting 59 times in 2013.

Mbappe is also only the fourth player to score 63 goals in a calendar year in the 21st century. He has joined the exclusive company of Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Robert Lewandowski.

Mbappe vs Ronaldo: Distribution of Goals

In his record-breaking year, Cristiano Ronaldo scored six hat-tricks and 12 braces. Nine of his goals came from the penalty spot. Despite his heroics, Los Blancos went trophyless in the 2012/13 season.

BREAKING: Kylian Mbappé becomes only the FOURTH player in 21st century to score over 63 goals in a single year:

Lewandowski
Ronaldo
Messi
Mbappé pic.twitter.com/NfCjEUO1ff

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) December 17, 2025

Kylian Mbappe, meanwhile, has scored five hat-tricks and 11 braces for Real Madrid in 2025. Being the team’s designated penalty taker, he has scored 12 penalties.

The France captain also finished the 2024/25 season without a trophy, and the signs do not look encouraging this term as well. Mbappe has been a complete forward this season, but Xabi Alonso has yet to bring out the best in the team.

Real Madrid wrap up 2025 with their match against Sevilla at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday. A brace would be enough for Mbappe to break his idol’s record. But more importantly, it just might allow Alonso to keep his job beyond 2025.