Unai Simón Mendibil was crowned the best goalkeeper of the year by receiving the Lev Yashin Trophy, the goalkeeper award that is awarded along with the Ballon d'Or. The ceremony, which took place on a night full of uncertainty about the winner of the Ballon d'Or, saw Simón, from Athletic Club and the Spanish national team, collect the award with the unanimity of the voters. The Basque, born in Vitoria on June 11, 1997, celebrated the recognition after having won the World Cup with Spain and having kept the goal practically inviolate throughout the tournament.
During his speech, Simón thanked his family, his girlfriend and his childhood team, whom he described as “privileged” for helping him get to that point. He also paid tribute to his coach Koldo Asua, who recently passed away, and highlighted the legacy that football leaves behind beyond titles. “I have learned to love Athletic Club, a club that has given me everything,” he commented, underlining the importance of his bond with the local team. “It would be impossible without the help of many people,” he added, while thanking his teammates from the national team and the club.
The award was awarded after an analysis of the 25/26 season, in which Simón surpassed rivals such as Thibaut Courtois of Real Madrid and David Raya of Arsenal. His performance was reinforced by his performance at the 2026 World Cup, where he kept clean sheets in 750 minutes, save for the lone goal conceded by Charles De Ketelaere in the quarter-finals against Belgium. This achievement allowed him to break the record of Walter Zenga, who had set 517 minutes without conceding a goal in the 1990 World Cup. Simón, who had been unbeaten since the match against Japan in the group stage of Qatar 2022, also left decisive saves against players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi.
Although his season at Athletic Club did not culminate with highly relevant titles and the team was relegated to the group stage of the Champions League, the goalkeeper from Vitoria added to the individual trophy his first “Golden Glove” of the 2026 World Cup and the Zamora Trophy for the 23/24 season. These awards consolidate his position among the best goalkeepers in the world and, according to experts, also among the most outstanding in the history of Spanish football. With this victory, Simón positions himself as a benchmark in his position, and his career promises to continue generating success both at the club and international level.