Cyle Larin’s La Liga stats already stack up against the best.

With five goals in his first eight games for Real Valladolid, the Canadian men’s national team’s all-time leading goalscorer has the best minutes-per-goal ratio of any player in Spain’s top flight who has scored more than once this season, ahead of the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Karim Benzema, Memphis Depay, Álvaro Morata, and other huge names in Spain.

Larin has scored against some strong teams so far in Spain – a match-winner against Valencia on his debut, a strike against Real Betis, last time out against Athletic Bilbao. On Sunday, though, he faces the biggest test of his European career so far.

‘The Brampton Benzema’ will face the real Benzema, Karim, when Valladolid travel to the famous Bernabeu to face Real Madrid, who are the reigning Spanish, European, and world champions. As a side note, perhaps given Larin’s scoring form it’s time to flip the nicknames and start calling Benzema ‘the Lyon Larin’ instead?

Larin, in typical fashion for the 27-year-old, can’t wait to pit himself against La Liga’s best.

“I’m excited to play there against those guys,” he told the Athletic’s Dermot Corrigan. “I always wanted to play against the best and I like playing in big games. That’s what makes you a better player, to develop your game, and reach the goals you want in life, on and off the pitch.”

The royal (well, Real) rumble will certainly stand out as one of the highlight games for Canadian fans looking to watch how Canucks get on abroad this weekend. Such is the interest in Larin’s red-hot start in Spain and the quality of Sunday’s opponents that TSN have picked up the game to show live on TSN3.

It also is the first of several games against some of the best teams in Europe over the next few weeks for Larin and Valladolid. They face Atlético Madrid in their last game of April in four weeks’ time and battle Barcelona on May 24.

Those are big opportunities for Valladolid’s February player of the month to show the level of his mettle, but for now, he will be focused on helping his side compete at one of the most intimidating stadiums in world soccer.

If Larin can continue his remarkable week – he scored three goals across two games for Canada in the CONCACAF Nations League A group finale during the international break – he will extend a start to life in Valladolid that is already one of the best La Liga has seen this century.

Only Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Lewandowski have had better goalscoring starts to their La Liga careers in the 21st century than the man from Brampton. “It feels good to be alongside them,” said Larin. “Those guys are great strikers, top professionals and some of the best players in the world. It just feels good to be able to be close to them.

“Every time, at every stage, I’ve always proven that I can be there, I can score goals there. This is just another step to take and to play with top players, top teams. I’ll keep doing what I’ve always done — as long as I’m playing, then I’ll score.”

Meanwhile, there has been much talk of Larin’s future beyond the end of his season, when his initial loan deal in Spain expires and he theoretically returns to Spain. If Valladolid stay up, they can make his loan permanent for a small fee.

Although Premier League teams have reportedly been watching from afar with interest, as he has done in recent weeks, Larin reiterated that he feels at home in Valladolid.

“I see it as something longer term — so far, so good,” he told Corrigan. “I like the idea of staying here. I feel comfortable with the staff, the fans, and the people here.”

They love him in Valladolid, where the fans call him “Larinismo” and sometimes wear masks of his face. And why wouldn’t they? The Canadian has been the spark that has ignited their season.

A repeat of his regular goal heroics against Real Madrid would be a new high point.