Few trophies in European football carry the weight of history that the Copa del Rey does.
Since its first edition in 1903, Spain’s premier knockout cup competition has produced some of the game’s most dramatic finals, iconic upsets, and enduring dynasties.
It is older than La Liga. Older than Wembley. Older than the World Cup itself.
Barcelona have won it 32 times. Athletic Club have lifted it 24 times, including the inaugural edition.
Real Madrid, despite their global dominance, come third with 20 titles, a gap that surprises many. And every single season, smaller clubs dream of making their own history in the draw.
Whether you’re searching for the complete Copa del Rey winners list, the records, the most successful clubs, or the story of the 2026 champion, this is the definitive guide.
Everything is here: 123 years of Spanish cup football, laid out in full.
What Is the Copa del Rey?
The Copa del Rey, translated as the King’s Cup, is Spain’s primary domestic cup competition, organised annually by the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
Its full official name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol (Championship of Spain – Cup of His Majesty the King of Football).
The competition was founded in 1903, making it the oldest football tournament in Spanish history and one of the oldest in all of Europe.
It predates La Liga by 26 years and has been contested every season since, with the only interruption being the 1937 and 1938 editions, which were cancelled due to the Spanish Civil War.
The format is a straightforward knockout competition, open to clubs across all levels of Spanish football.
La Liga and Segunda División clubs receive byes into later rounds, while lower-league sides enter in the preliminary stages.
The competition typically runs from late September through to the final in April or May.
Winning the Copa del Rey carries a significant sporting reward. The champion earns qualification for the following season’s UEFA Europa League, unless they have already qualified for the Champions League via their league position.
Both the winner and runner-up also qualify for the Supercopa de España, Spain’s curtain-raiser showpiece event.
The trophy itself, a gleaming silver cup, is one of the most recognisable pieces of silverware in world football.
The Copa del Rey has a long tradition of producing upsets. Lower-division clubs regularly knock out top-flight giants, and the single-leg format in earlier rounds gives underdogs a genuine chance. It is, in many ways, the most democratic competition in Spanish football.
Complete Copa del Rey Winners List (1903–2026)
Below is the full Copa del Rey winners list, covering every season from the inaugural 1903 edition through the 2026 final.
Note that two parallel editions were held in 1910 and 1913 due to administrative disputes between rival football federations; both are considered official by the RFEF.
The competition was not held in 1937 or 1938.
| Season | Winner | Runner-Up | Score | Venue |
| 1903 | Athletic Bilbao | Madrid FC | 3–2 | Hipódromo, Madrid |
| 1904* | Athletic Bilbao | Español de Madrid | Not played | — |
| 1905 | Madrid FC | Athletic Bilbao | 1–0 | Tiro del Pichón, Madrid |
| 1906 | Madrid FC | Athletic Bilbao | 4–1 | Hipódromo, Madrid |
| 1907 | Madrid FC | Bizcaya | 1–0 | Hipódromo, Madrid |
| 1908 | Madrid FC | Real Vigo Sporting | 2–1 | O’Donnell, Madrid |
| 1909 | Club Ciclista | Español de Madrid | 3–1 | O’Donnell, Madrid |
| 1910 (UECF) | Athletic Bilbao | Vasconia SC | 1–0 | Ondarreta, San Sebastián |
| 1910 (FECF) | Barcelona | Español de Madrid | 3–2 | Tiro del Pichón, Madrid |
| 1911 | Athletic Bilbao | Español | 3–1 | Josaleta, Getxo |
| 1912 | Barcelona | Gimnástica | 2–0 | La Industria, Barcelona |
| 1913 (UECF) | Barcelona | Real Sociedad | 2–1 (replay) | La Industria, Barcelona |
| 1913 (FECF) | Racing de Irún | Athletic Bilbao | 1–0 (replay) | O’Donnell, Madrid |
| 1914 | Athletic Bilbao | Espanya | 2–1 | Costorbe, Irún |
| 1915 | Athletic Bilbao | Español | 5–0 | Amute, Irún |
| 1916 | Athletic Bilbao | Madrid FC | 4–0 | La Industria, Barcelona |
| 1917 | Madrid FC | Arenas | 2–1 (replay) | La Industria, Barcelona |
| 1918 | Real Unión | Madrid FC | 2–0 | O’Donnell, Madrid |
| 1919 | Arenas | Barcelona | 5–2 (aet) | Martínez Campos, Madrid |
| 1920 | Barcelona | Athletic Bilbao | 2–0 | El Molinón, Gijón |
| 1921 | Athletic Bilbao | Atlético Madrid | 4–1 | San Mamés, Bilbao |
| 1922 | Barcelona | Real Unión | 5–1 | Coia, Vigo |
| 1923 | Athletic Bilbao | Europa | 1–0 | Les Corts, Barcelona |
| 1924 | Real Unión | Real Madrid | 1–0 | Atotxa, San Sebastián |
| 1925 | Barcelona | Arenas | 2–0 | Reina Victoria, Seville |
| 1926 | Barcelona | Atlético Madrid | 3–2 (aet) | Mestalla, Valencia |
| 1927 | Real Unión | Arenas | 1–0 (aet) | Torrero, Zaragoza |
| 1928 | Barcelona | Real Sociedad | 3–1 (replay) | El Sardinero, Santander |
| 1928–29 | RCD Espanyol | Real Madrid | 2–1 | Mestalla, Valencia |
| 1930 | Athletic Bilbao | Real Madrid | 3–2 (aet) | Montjuïc, Barcelona |
| 1931 | Athletic Bilbao | Real Betis | 3–1 | Chamartín, Madrid |
| 1932 | Athletic Bilbao | Barcelona | 1–0 | Chamartín, Madrid |
| 1933 | Athletic Bilbao | Real Madrid | 2–1 | Montjuïc, Barcelona |
| 1934 | Real Madrid | Valencia | 2–1 | Montjuïc, Barcelona |
| 1935 | Sevilla | Sabadell | 3–0 | Chamartín, Madrid |
| 1936 | Real Madrid | Barcelona | 2–1 | Mestalla, Valencia |
| 1937 | Not held (Spanish Civil War) | |||
| 1938 | Not held (Spanish Civil War) | |||
| 1939 | Sevilla | Racing de Ferrol | 6–2 | Montjuïc, Barcelona |
| 1940 | Español | Real Madrid | 3–2 (aet) | Campo de Vallecas, Madrid |
| 1941 | Valencia | Español | 3–1 | Chamartín, Madrid |
| 1942 | Barcelona | Atlético Bilbao | 4–3 (aet) | Chamartín, Madrid |
| 1943 | Athletic Bilbao | Real Madrid | 1–0 (aet) | Metropolitano, Madrid |
| 1944 | Athletic Bilbao | Valencia | 2–0 | Montjuïc, Barcelona |
| 1944–45 | Athletic Bilbao | Valencia | 3–2 | Montjuïc, Barcelona |
| 1946 | Real Madrid | Valencia | 3–1 | Montjuïc, Barcelona |
| 1947 | Real Madrid | Español | 2–0 (aet) | Riazor, A Coruña |
| 1947–48 | Sevilla | Celta Vigo | 4–1 | Nuevo Chamartín, Madrid |
| 1948–49 | Valencia | Athletic Bilbao | 1–0 | Nuevo Chamartín, Madrid |
| 1949–50 | Athletic Bilbao | Valladolid | 4–1 (aet) | Nuevo Chamartín, Madrid |
| 1951 | Barcelona | Real Sociedad | 3–0 | Nuevo Chamartín, Madrid |
| 1952 | Barcelona | Valencia | 4–2 (aet) | Nuevo Chamartín, Madrid |
| 1952–53 | Barcelona | Athletic Bilbao | 2–1 | Nuevo Chamartín, Madrid |
| 1954 | Valencia | Barcelona | 3–0 | Nuevo Chamartín, Madrid |
| 1955 | Athletic Bilbao | Sevilla | 1–0 | Bernabéu, Madrid |
| 1956 | Athletic Bilbao | Atlético Madrid | 2–1 | Bernabéu, Madrid |
| 1957 | Barcelona | Español | 1–0 | Montjuïc, Barcelona |
| 1958 | Athletic Bilbao | Real Madrid | 2–0 | Bernabéu, Madrid |
| 1958–59 | Barcelona | Granada | 4–1 | Bernabéu, Madrid |
| 1959–60 | Atlético Madrid | Real Madrid | 3–1 | Bernabéu, Madrid |
| 1960–61 | Atlético Madrid | Real Madrid | 3–2 | Bernabéu, Madrid |
| 1961–62 | Real Madrid | Sevilla | 2–1 | Bernabéu, Madrid |
| 1962–63 | Barcelona | Zaragoza | 3–1 | Camp Nou, Barcelona |
| 1963–64 | Zaragoza | Atlético Madrid | 2–1 | Bernabéu, Madrid |
| 1964–65 | Atlético Madrid | Zaragoza | 1–0 | Bernabéu, Madrid |
| 1965–66 | Zaragoza | Athletic Bilbao | 2–0 | Bernabéu, Madrid |
| 1966–67 | Valencia | Athletic Bilbao | 2–1 | Bernabéu, Madrid |
| 1967–68 | Barcelona | Real Madrid | 1–0 | Bernabéu, Madrid |
| 1969 | Athletic Bilbao | Elche | 1–0 | Bernabéu, Madrid |
| 1969–70 | Real Madrid | Valencia | 3–1 | Camp Nou, Barcelona |
| 1970–71 | Barcelona | Valencia | 4–3 (aet) | Bernabéu, Madrid |
| 1971–72 | Atlético Madrid | Valencia | 2–1 | Bernabéu, Madrid |
| 1972–73 | Athletic Bilbao | Castellón | 2–0 | Calderón, Madrid |
| 1973–74 | Real Madrid | Barcelona | 4–0 | Calderón, Madrid |
| 1974–75 | Real Madrid | Atlético Madrid | 0–0* (pens) | Calderón, Madrid |
| 1975–76 | Atlético Madrid | Zaragoza | 1–0 | Bernabéu, Madrid |
| 1976–77 | Real Betis | Athletic Bilbao | 2–2* (pens) | Calderón, Madrid |
| 1977–78 | Barcelona | Las Palmas | 3–1 | Bernabéu, Madrid |
| 1978–79 | Valencia | Real Madrid | 2–0 | Calderón, Madrid |
| 1979–80 | Real Madrid | Castilla | 6–1 | Bernabéu, Madrid |
| 1980–81 | Barcelona | Sporting Gijón | 3–1 | Calderón, Madrid |
| 1981–82 | Real Madrid | Sporting Gijón | 2–1 | Zorrilla, Valladolid |
| 1982–83 | Barcelona | Real Madrid | 2–1 | La Romareda, Zaragoza |
| 1983–84 | Athletic Bilbao | Barcelona | 1–0 | Bernabéu, Madrid |
| 1984–85 | Atlético Madrid | Athletic Bilbao | 2–1 | Bernabéu, Madrid |
| 1985–86 | Zaragoza | Barcelona | 1–0 | Calderón, Madrid |
| 1986–87 | Real Sociedad | Atlético Madrid | 2–2* (pens) | La Romareda, Zaragoza |
| 1987–88 | Barcelona | Real Sociedad | 1–0 | Bernabéu, Madrid |
| 1988–89 | Real Madrid | Valladolid | 1–0 | Calderón, Madrid |
| 1989–90 | Barcelona | Real Madrid | 2–0 | Luis Casanova, Valencia |
| 1990–91 | Atlético Madrid | Mallorca | 1–0 (aet) | Bernabéu, Madrid |
| 1991–92 | Atlético Madrid | Real Madrid | 2–0 | Bernabéu, Madrid |
| 1992–93 | Real Madrid | Zaragoza | 2–0 | Luis Casanova, Valencia |
| 1993–94 | Zaragoza | Celta Vigo | 0–0* (pens) | Calderón, Madrid |
| 1994–95 | Deportivo La Coruña | Valencia | 2–1 | Bernabéu, Madrid |
| 1995–96 | Atlético Madrid | Barcelona | 1–0 (aet) | La Romareda, Zaragoza |
| 1996–97 | Barcelona | Real Betis | 3–2 (aet) | Bernabéu, Madrid |
| 1997–98 | Barcelona | Mallorca | 1–1* (pens) | Mestalla, Valencia |
| 1998–99 | Valencia | Atlético Madrid | 3–0 | Estadio Olímpico, Seville |
| 1999–2000 | Espanyol | Atlético Madrid | 2–1 | Mestalla, Valencia |
| 2000–01 | Zaragoza | Celta Vigo | 3–1 | Estadio Olímpico, Seville |
| 2001–02 | Deportivo La Coruña | Real Madrid | 2–1 | Bernabéu, Madrid |
| 2002–03 | Mallorca | Recreativo | 3–0 | Martínez Valero, Elche |
| 2003–04 | Zaragoza | Real Madrid | 3–2 (aet) | Lluís Companys, Barcelona |
| 2004–05 | Real Betis | Osasuna | 2–1 (aet) | Calderón, Madrid |
| 2005–06 | Espanyol | Zaragoza | 4–1 | Bernabéu, Madrid |
| 2006–07 | Sevilla | Getafe | 1–0 | Bernabéu, Madrid |
| 2007–08 | Valencia | Getafe | 3–1 | Calderón, Madrid |
| 2008–09 | Barcelona | Athletic Bilbao | 4–1 | Mestalla, Valencia |
| 2009–10 | Sevilla | Atlético Madrid | 2–0 | Camp Nou, Barcelona |
| 2010–11 | Real Madrid | Barcelona | 1–0 (aet) | Mestalla, Valencia |
| 2011–12 | Barcelona | Athletic Bilbao | 3–0 | Calderón, Madrid |
| 2012–13 | Atlético Madrid | Real Madrid | 2–1 (aet) | Bernabéu, Madrid |
| 2013–14 | Real Madrid | Barcelona | 2–1 | Mestalla, Valencia |
| 2014–15 | Barcelona | Athletic Bilbao | 3–1 | Camp Nou, Barcelona |
| 2015–16 | Barcelona | Sevilla | 2–0 (aet) | Calderón, Madrid |
| 2016–17 | Barcelona | Alavés | 3–1 | Calderón, Madrid |
| 2017–18 | Barcelona | Sevilla | 5–0 | Metropolitano, Madrid |
| 2018–19 | Valencia | Barcelona | 2–1 | Benito Villamarín, Seville |
| 2019–20 | Real Sociedad | Athletic Bilbao | 1–0 | La Cartuja, Seville |
| 2020–21 | Barcelona | Athletic Bilbao | 4–0 | La Cartuja, Seville |
| 2021–22 | Real Betis | Valencia | 1–1* (pens 5–4) | La Cartuja, Seville |
| 2022–23 | Real Madrid | Osasuna | 2–1 | La Cartuja, Seville |
| 2023–24 | Athletic Bilbao | Mallorca | 1–1* (pens 4–2) | La Cartuja, Seville |
| 2024–25 | Barcelona | Real Madrid | 3–2 (aet) | La Cartuja, Seville |
| 2025–26 | Real Sociedad | Atlético Madrid | 2–2* (pens 4–3) | La Cartuja, Seville |
* Won on penalty shootout | aet = after extra time | 1904 final not played; Athletic Bilbao awarded trophy by default | 1937–38 not held (Spanish Civil War)
Most Successful Clubs in Copa del Rey History
The Copa del Rey has been dominated by a small group of clubs across its 123-year history. Barcelona lead the way by a significant margin, while Athletic Club and Real Madrid complete the top three. Below is the comprehensive record table.
| Rank | Club | Titles | Runner-Up | Finals | First Title | Latest Title |
| 1 | Barcelona | 32 | 11 | 43 | 1910 | 2025 |
| 2 | Athletic Bilbao | 24 | 16 | 40 | 1903 | 2024 |
| 3 | Real Madrid | 20 | 21 | 41 | 1905 | 2023 |
| 4 | Atlético Madrid | 10 | 9 | 19 | 1960 | 2013 |
| 5 | Valencia | 8 | 10 | 18 | 1941 | 2019 |
| 6 | Zaragoza | 6 | 5 | 11 | 1964 | 2004 |
| 7 | Sevilla | 5 | 4 | 9 | 1935 | 2010 |
| 8 | Espanyol | 4 | 5 | 9 | 1929 | 2006 |
| 9 | Real Sociedad | 4 | 2 | 6 | 1909† | 2026 |
| 10 | Real Betis | 3 | 2 | 5 | 1977 | 2022 |
| 11 | Real Unión | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1918 | 1927 |
| 12 | Deportivo La Coruña | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1995 | 2002 |
| 13 | Arenas | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1919 | 1919 |
| 14 | Mallorca | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2003 | 2003 |
| 15 | Club Ciclista | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1909 | 1909 |
† Real Sociedad’s 1909 win was by Club Ciclista de San Sebastián, a predecessor club. Real Sociedad’s own recognised wins begin in 1913.
Barcelona — 32 Titles
No club in the history of the Copa del Rey has been as dominant as Barcelona. Their 32 titles represent nearly a quarter of all editions ever played, and their 74.4% win rate across 43 finals is remarkable for any competition over such a long period.
Barcelona have won the cup in every decade since the 1910s, with one notable exception: the 1930s, when the Spanish Civil War brought football to a halt.
Their greatest period came in the modern era, winning seven consecutive Copa del Rey titles between 2015 and 2021, a sequence that stands as the longest winning streak in the competition’s history.
Pep Guardiola, Johan Cruyff, and Luis Enrique are among the legendary managers who have guided Barcelona to cup glory.
For individual brilliance in finals, Lionel Messi stands alone: 9 goals in finals, 7 finals scored in, 10 final appearances, and 3 Man of the Match awards — records that may never be surpassed.
Athletic Bilbao — 24 Titles
Athletic Club’s relationship with the Copa del Rey is unlike any other. They won the inaugural 1903 edition and have gone on to lift the trophy 24 times, with a record 40 final appearances.
For much of the competition’s early history, Athletic were the dominant force, winning six consecutive titles between 1930 and 1935, a feat that has never been matched.
After that golden era, their cup success became more intermittent, but no less meaningful.
Their 2024 title, a penalty shootout victory over Mallorca, ended a 40-year wait for major silverware, with Nico Williams named Man of the Match in a win that sent the whole of Bilbao into celebration.
Athletic’s unique Basque-only player policy makes their cup haul all the more impressive. They have produced more Copa del Rey trophies than Real Madrid, with a significantly smaller talent pool.
Real Madrid — 20 Titles
Real Madrid’s 20 Copa del Rey titles are the third-most in history, but their record in this competition has always been overshadowed by their dominance in La Liga and the Champions League.
Los Blancos have actually lost more finals than any other club, 21 runner-up finishes, making their win percentage of just 48.8% the lowest among the competition’s biggest clubs.
Madrid enjoyed a productive period in the 1970s and 1980s, but their 21st-century record in the cup has been patchy.
The 2023 final, a 2–1 win over Osasuna at La Cartuja, with Rodrygo scoring both goals, was their first title in nine years and only their second since 2014.
Atlético Madrid — 10 Titles
Atlético Madrid’s 10 Copa del Rey titles place them comfortably in the competition’s top tier, though their last win came in 2013, a dramatic 2–1 extra-time defeat of Real Madrid at the Bernabéu, a result that underlined the fierce nature of the Madrid derby.
Their consistent final appearances, including the 2026 runner-up finish, confirm them as perennial cup contenders.
Valencia — 8 Titles
Valencia are Spanish football’s cup sleeping giant. Eight titles across eight decades of competition paint a picture of consistent, if infrequent, excellence.
Their most recent triumph came in 2019, when they famously upset Barcelona 2–1 at the Estadio Benito Villamarín in Seville, one of the biggest final upsets of the modern era.
Zaragoza — 6 Titles
Real Zaragoza remain the most successful club in Copa del Rey history that has never competed at the very top of Spanish football on a sustained basis.
Their 6 titles, spread across four decades from 1964 to 2004, including a dramatic extra-time final win over Real Madrid in 2004, make them one of the competition’s most celebrated giant-killers.
Clubs With Most Copa del Rey Final Appearances
| Club | Finals | Won | Lost |
| Barcelona | 43 | 32 | 11 |
| Real Madrid | 41 | 20 | 21 |
| Athletic Bilbao | 40 | 24 | 16 |
| Atlético Madrid | 19 | 10 | 9 |
| Valencia | 18 | 8 | 10 |
| Zaragoza | 11 | 6 | 5 |
| Espanyol | 9 | 4 | 5 |
| Sevilla | 9 | 5 | 4 |
| Real Sociedad | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| Real Betis | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Mallorca | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| Arenas | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| Real Unión | 4 | 3 | 1 |
Consecutive Copa del Rey Winners — Cup Dynasties
Only a handful of clubs have managed to successfully defend the Copa del Rey, a feat that speaks to extraordinary consistency in a competition where upsets are common, and form can be unpredictable.
The most remarkable run of consecutive success belongs to Barcelona in the modern era. Between 2014–15 and 2020–21, they won seven Copa del Rey titles in a row — a sequence that is almost certainly the greatest sustained dominance the competition has ever seen from a single club.
Athletic Club’s golden period in the early 1930s saw them claim five titles in five seasons from 1930 to 1934, effectively making the Copa del Rey their personal property during that era. They also won back-to-back titles in the 1940s (1943, 1944, 1944–45) during the early Franco era of Spanish football.
Real Madrid claimed back-to-back titles in 1974–75 and another run of two in the 1980s. But their capacity to string consecutive cup wins together has never matched either Athletic or Barcelona.
Longest Consecutive Title Streaks
| Club | Consecutive Titles | Seasons |
| Barcelona | 7 | 2014–15 to 2020–21 |
| Athletic Bilbao | 5 | 1930 to 1934 |
| Athletic Bilbao | 3 | 1943 to 1944–45 |
| Athletic Bilbao | 3 | 1914 to 1916 |
| Real Madrid | 2 | 1974–75 to 1975–76 (lost one; won two across 3 seasons) |
Biggest Copa del Rey Final Victories
| Year | Winner | Runner-Up | Score |
| 1939 | Sevilla | Racing de Ferrol | 6–2 |
| 1979–80 | Real Madrid | Castilla | 6–1 |
| 1915 | Athletic Bilbao | Español | 5–0 |
| 2017–18 | Barcelona | Sevilla | 5–0 |
| 1919 | Arenas | Barcelona | 5–2 (aet) |
| 1973–74 | Real Madrid | Barcelona | 4–0 |
| 2008–09 | Barcelona | Athletic Bilbao | 4–1 |
| 2020–21 | Barcelona | Athletic Bilbao | 4–0 |
Copa del Rey Records & Statistics
| Record | Holder | Detail |
| Most titles | Barcelona | 32 titles |
| Most runner-up finishes | Real Madrid | 21 runner-up finishes |
| Most final appearances | Barcelona | 43 finals |
| Most consecutive titles | Barcelona | 7 (2015–2021) |
| Biggest final win | Sevilla / Real Madrid | 6–2 (1939) / 6–1 (1980) |
| Most goals in finals (player) | Lionel Messi | 9 goals |
| Most finals scored in (player) | Lionel Messi | 7 finals |
| Most final appearances (player) | Lionel Messi / Sergio Busquets | 10 appearances |
| Most Copa del Rey titles (player) | Messi / Busquets / Piqué / Gainza | 7 each |
| Most goals in a single final | Telmo Zarra (Athletic Bilbao) | 4 goals (1950 final) |
| Most consecutive finals scored in | Telmo Zarra | 4 consecutive finals (1942–1945) |
| Perfect final record | Deportivo La Coruña | 2 finals played, 2 won (100%) |
| Worst final record (multi-final clubs) | Español de Madrid / Celta Vigo | 3 finals, 0 wins |
| Fewest titles, most finals | Mallorca | 1 title from 4 finals (25%) |
| The oldest competition in Spain | Copa del Rey | Founded 1903 (26 years before La Liga) |
20 Fascinating Copa del Rey Facts
- The Copa del Rey is the oldest football competition in Spain, founded in 1903 — 26 years before La Liga began.
- Athletic Bilbao won the first-ever Copa del Rey in 1903, beating Madrid FC 3–2.
- The 1904 final was never played due to a dispute; Athletic Bilbao were awarded the trophy by default.
- Barcelona have reached 43 finals — more than any other club — and won 32 of them.
- Real Madrid have lost more Copa del Rey finals (21) than any other club in history.
- Lionel Messi has scored 9 goals in Copa del Rey finals — the most by any individual player.
- The competition was not held in 1937 or 1938 due to the Spanish Civil War.
- Barcelona won seven consecutive Copa del Rey titles between 2015 and 2021.
- Deportivo La Coruña played two Copa del Rey finals and won both — a perfect 100% record.
- Telmo Zarra scored four goals in the 1950 final — the most goals by a single player in any Copa del Rey final.
- The 1980 Copa del Rey final was contested between Real Madrid and Castilla — Real Madrid’s own reserve team.
- Only 15 different clubs have ever lifted the Copa del Rey despite over 120 editions.
- Barcelona are the only club to win a continental treble (La Liga, Copa del Rey, Champions League) in the same season — achieved in 2009 and 2015.
- Athletic Bilbao have appeared in 40 Copa del Rey finals across the competition’s history.
- The 2026 final had an attendance of 70,000 — the highest at La Cartuja for the Copa del Rey final.
- Real Sociedad’s 2026 win was completed without conceding a goal in open play in the shootout — goalkeeper Unai Marrero saved twice.
- The smallest crowd for a Copa del Rey final in modern times was 0 — the 2020 and 2021 editions were played behind closed doors due to COVID-19.
- Real Unión de Irún won three Copa del Rey titles (1918, 1924, 1927) — a club that no longer exists at the highest level of Spanish football.
- Atlético Madrid ended a 40-year wait for a Copa del Rey title when they won in 2013 — but then waited another 13 years without winning it again through 2026.
- Club Ciclista de San Sebastián won the 1909 edition — the strangest name in the competition’s list of champions, a club originally founded as a cycling club.
Copa del Rey Timeline — Key Milestones (1903–2026)
| Year | Milestone |
| 1903 | First Copa del Rey held. Athletic Bilbao beat Madrid FC 3–2 |
| 1909 | Barcelona win their first Copa del Rey title |
| 1929 | Espanyol win the cup; La Liga launches the same year |
| 1930–34 | Athletic Bilbao win five consecutive titles — the longest run in history until Barcelona matched and surpassed it |
| 1937–38 | Competition suspended due to Spanish Civil War |
| 1955 | Final held at Bernabéu for first time; 100,000 attend |
| 1975 | Competition renamed Copa del Rey following restoration of Spanish monarchy |
| 1979–80 | Real Madrid play their own reserve side Castilla in the final; win 6–1 |
| 1984 | Athletic Bilbao beat Barcelona 1–0 at the Bernabéu — one of the great finals |
| 2009 | Barcelona complete continental treble including Copa del Rey — first club to do so |
| 2013 | Atlético Madrid beat Real Madrid 2–1 in Madrid derby final |
| 2015 | Barcelona complete second treble; Messi scores in his 7th Copa del Rey final |
| 2015–21 | Barcelona win seven consecutive Copa del Rey titles |
| 2019 | Valencia upset Barcelona 2–1 in Seville |
| 2020 | Real Sociedad win the final held behind closed doors due to COVID-19 |
| 2022 | Real Betis win third title, beating Valencia on penalties |
| 2024 | Athletic Bilbao end 40-year major trophy drought with cup win over Mallorca |
| 2025 | Barcelona beat Real Madrid 3–2 to claim record 32nd Copa del Rey title |
| 2026 | Real Sociedad beat Atlético Madrid 4–3 on pens to win 4th Copa del Rey title |
Conclusion
The Copa del Rey is more than just a trophy. It is 123 years of Spanish football history — Athletic Bilbao lifting the inaugural cup in 1903, Messi scoring in seven different finals, Barcelona’s seven-year dynasty, Valencia’s impossible upset of 2019, and Real Sociedad’s penalty shootout triumph in 2026.
Barcelona’s 32 titles make them the undisputed kings of the competition, but the Copa del Rey’s great appeal is that no title is guaranteed.
Every season, the draw brings fresh possibilities, fresh drama, and fresh chances for the unexpected. Athletic Bilbao waited 40 years to win the cup again.
Real Sociedad celebrated their fourth title with jubilant fans in a full La Cartuja stadium. That is what this competition does to clubs and their supporters.
As Spanish football evolves — with VAR, European super-competition discussions, and changing club finances — the Copa del Rey remains the most democratic and unpredictable of Spain’s three major honours.
Alongside La Liga and Spain’s involvement in the UEFA Champions League, it completes the picture of a football nation that has produced some of the finest football ever played.
For every edition played since 1903, somebody has lifted that silver cup and made history. The question for the next edition is simply: who will be next?
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