Unai Simon, the Athletic Bilbao and Spain goalkeeper, has been named the best goalkeeper in the world at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in London on Monday.
Simon was selected ahead of nine other leading goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou of Morocco and Al-Hilal, Thibaut Courtois of Belgium and Real Madrid, Joan Garcia of Spain and Barcelona, Gregor Kobel of Switzerland and Dortmund, Emiliano Martinez of Argentina and Chelsea, Edouard Mendy of Senegal and Al-Ahli, David Raya of Spain and Arsenal, Matvei Safonov of Russia and Paris Saint-Germain, and Vozinha of Cape Verde and Colo-Colo.
The goalkeeper’s leading role in Spain’s 2026 World Cup triumph was the main factor behind his success. Simon was Spain’s first-choice goalkeeper throughout the tournament as the team lifted the trophy.
He also claimed the Golden Glove award after conceding only one goal in eight matches at the World Cup.
Simon’s achievement extended beyond winning the tournament. He also set the longest unbeaten goalkeeping run in World Cup history, going 650 consecutive minutes without conceding.
That sequence began with his final two appearances at the 2022 World Cup and continued through Spain’s first six and a half matches at the 2026 tournament.
