Spain’s Unai Simón wins Golden Glove after record-breaking World Cup campaign
Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón has been named the winner of the Golden Glove award at the 2026 FIFA World Cup following a remarkable tournament that culminated in La Roja lifting their second world title.
The Athletic Club shot-stopper produced one of the finest goalkeeping displays in World Cup history, keeping seven clean sheets in eight matches and conceding just one goal throughout the tournament.
That lone goal came in Spain’s 2-1 quarter-final victory over Belgium, when Charles De Ketelaere ended Simón’s remarkable shutout streak.
The 29-year-old also set a new FIFA World Cup record by going 649 consecutive minutes without conceding a goal, surpassing the previous benchmark for the longest clean-sheet run in tournament history.
Simón completed his historic campaign by keeping another clean sheet in the final as Spain defeated defending champions Argentina 1-0 after extra time on Sunday, July 19, to be crowned world champions.
His performances were instrumental in Spain boasting the tournament’s best defensive record, conceding just once in eight matches on their way to the trophy.
Spain dominated the individual honours, claiming three of the tournament’s four major awards, with Rodri recognised as the competition’s best player, Simón honoured as the outstanding goalkeeper, and teenage defender Pau Cubarsí named the Best Young Player. France captain Kylian Mbappé finished as the tournament’s top scorer with 10 goals.
