SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall will miss Monday night's game against the Indianapolis Colts after re-injuring his knee last week.
Pearsall won't travel with the 49ers for the game after leaving last week's game against Tennessee in the fourth quarter when he aggravated a knee injury that had previously sidelined for six games this season.
Pearsall is also dealing with an ankle injury after an uncalled hip drop tackle on the first play from scrimmage last last week that led to a fine of more than $23,000 for Titans defensive back Kevin Winston.
The 49ers (10-4) also ruled out starting cornerback Renardo Green from the game against the Colts with a neck injury that has bothered him throughout the season. Darrell Luter will likely start in his place.
San Francisco will get three key defensive players back this week with linebacker Tatum Bethune (ankle), defensive tackle Jordan Elliott (knee) and defensive end Sam Okuayinonu (ankle) all cleared to play after missing time recently. Linebacker Eric Kendricks, who was recently signed to the practice squad, could make his debut for the Niners after dealing with a calf injury.
The 49ers enter the stretch run of the season needing one win in the final three games to clinch a playoff spot. San Francisco would clinch the division and No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs by winning all three remaining games.
Pearsall was coming off his best game since returning from the knee injury with six catches for 96 yards in the win against the Titans. Pearsall had struggled to produce in his first three games back with five catches for 20 yards but looked like his old self last week when he got loose downfield for some big plays.
The 2024 first-round pick had gotten off to a fast start this season with 20 catches for 327 yards before getting hurt early in the second half in Week 4.
The 49ers also placed rookie linebacker Nick Martin on injured reserve with a concussion. Martin hasn't played since being concussed in a win at Cleveland on Nov. 30. Martin, a third-round pick, will miss at least four games. He played just 15 defensive snaps in seven games as a rookie this seaosn.
San Francisco didn't make a roster move but could activate defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos from injured reserve. Gross-Matos has been sidelined with a hamstring injury suffered in Week 5. Gross-Matos is listed as questionable.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (1) makes a catch past Tennessee Titans cornerback Kaiir Elam (35) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Tennessee Titans safety Kevin Winston Jr. (23) tackles San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (1) after a catch during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Kylian Mbappé scored his 59th goal for Real Madrid in 2025 on Saturday to equal the club record for the most in a year held by Cristiano Ronaldo.
The milestone was about to escape the France striker until he converted a penalty kick with four minutes left to complete a 2-0 win over 10-man Sevilla in Madrid's final game of the year.
On his 27th birthday, Mbappé matched Ronaldo’s tally from 2013. After embracing his teammates, he marked the feat with a subdued version of Ronaldo’s trademark goal celebration — whereby the Portugal forward leaps up and thrusts his arms downwards upon landing — before blowing a kiss at the television cameras.
The former Paris Saint-Germain star, who joined Madrid in the summer of 2024, has scored 29 times for Madrid this season, including a league-leading 18.
“It’s incredible, in my first (full) year to do what Cristiano did. (He's) my idol, the best player in the history of Real Madrid,” Mbappé said.
“My celebration is for him. I wanted to do that because he helped me adapt here and now I can help Madrid win games with my goals. I wanted to share it with him. I have a really good relationship with him, he is my friend, and I wish him and all Madrid fans a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”
Jude Bellingham scored with a header in the 38th minute and Sevilla lost defender Marcao to a second booking for rash tackles with 20 minutes left.
Sevilla coach Matías Almeyda also was expelled by the referee during the halftime break apparently for protesting.
Alonso has been under pressure for several weeks due to a run of bad results and the overall lackluster play of his star-studded side. Spanish sports media is rife with speculation the first-year coach could be replaced.
Now Madrid club president Florentino Pérez will have two weeks to ponder the team’s future before its next game against Real Betis on Jan. 4.
Alonso could have ill afforded another slip at the Santiago Bernabeu after his side lost its previous two home games. But Madrid's fans still had reason to grumble after Sevilla repeatedly created scoring chances — even after being reduced to 10 men.
Alexis Sánchez, still spry at age 37, and right back Juanlu Sánchez stood out the most for a Sevilla side that poked holes in Madrid’s defense.
Madrid needed Thibaut Courtois to deny Alexis, Isaac Romero and Alfonso González on four strikes in the second half. But Sevilla could have gone ahead if it had just showed more finishing touch early on.
The result was still in doubt until Mbappé converted his spot kick after Juanlu fouled Rodrygo in the area.
“Today was a game we had to win, we were in a complicated situation,” Alonso said. “We know that we can play better, and now we have the three points and will try to start the new year by improving.”
Madrid is in second place at one point behind Barcelona before the leader visits third-placed Villarreal on Sunday.
Levante and Real Sociedad drew 1-1 in Valencia before both sides announced the hiring of new coaches.
Sociedad hired American coach Pellegrino Matarazzo, while Luís Castro joined last-placed Levante.
Ante Budimir scored his first league goals in nearly two months to help Osasuna beat Alaves 3-0 and achieve its biggest win of the campaign.
The Croatia striker volleyed in a cross for the 72nd-minute breakthrough after Alaves goalkeeper Antonio Sivera made several saves.
Budimir made it a brace from the penalty spot after a handball by Víctor Parada and Raúl García completed the scoring in stoppage time.
Real Oviedo did not improve in the debut of its third coach of the season after a scoreless draw with Celta Vigo at home.
Celta had the best chances to break the deadlock of a game that featured a small flock of pigeons that spent a long period of time on the field.
Guillermo Almada is Oviedo’s third coach since returning to the top flight last season. The team from northern Spain is in second-to-last place.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe blows a kiss towards the TV camera as he celebrates after scoring his sides second goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Sevilla in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring his sides second goal from the penalty spot during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Sevilla in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Real Madrid's head coach Xabi Alonso looks out from the dugout ahead of the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Sevilla in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Sevilla in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior, right looks to control the ball under pressure from Sevilla's Juanlu Sanchez during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Sevilla in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Sevilla in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Sevilla in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
