Unai Simón has been crowned the best goalkeeper in the world at the Ballon d'Or gala for goalkeepers, held at the London Palladium Theatre. The Athletic Club goalkeeper, who had won the Euro Cup with the Spanish team and the Copa del Rey with his club, won the Yashin Trophy along with his family, president Jon Uriarte and sports director Mikel González. The ceremony started late due to London traffic, but the decision was announced at ten thirty at night, leaving Simón ahead of rivals such as David Raya, Thibaut Courtois, Matvey Safonov and Emiliano Martínez.
Simón's performance during the year has been outstanding. In the European Championship, he kept a clean sheet in 18 of the 36 games played, conceding only 33 goals and achieving a coefficient of 0.92 per game. His unbeaten record at the 2026 World Cup was even more impressive: he conceded just one goal in the entire tournament, against Belgium in the quarter-finals, surpassing Walter Zenga's record of 517 minutes without conceding from 1990 and reaching 650 minutes without a goal, a figure that is considered almost impossible to beat. For these achievements, Simón also received the Golden Glove.
At the club level, the goalkeeper has remained a starter in Athletic's preseason and in the first games of the season. In the match against Sevilla in San Mamés, although he did not achieve an outstanding performance, he recovered his form in the following match against Barcelona at the Camp Nou, where he helped avoid a more pronounced defeat. On the last matchday, September 29, Simón was solid against Getafe, making several decisive interventions that ensured Athletic's victory.
At the international level, Simón has also been a key player in the Spanish team. In the match against Croatia on October 6, on the fourth day of the Nations League, he made four crucial interventions, especially in the first half, which helped ensure the victory of La Roja. Coach Luis de la Fuente has expressed his satisfaction with the goalkeeper's performance, highlighting the importance of good defense and a solid goalkeeper to win games. De la Fuente also recognized Simón as the best coach of the tournament, underscoring the players' contribution in the defensive areas.
At 29 years old, Unai Simón continues to break records. At the Stadium Poljud in Split, he surpassed Luis Miguel Arconada in number of matches with the national team, leaving him only ahead of Iker Casillas and Andoni Zubizarreta. Simón's arrival on the list of the most outstanding goalkeepers in the world marks a milestone in his career and opens the door to new opportunities for both the club and the national team. Athletic and the Spanish Federation will continue to rely on his talent in upcoming matches, while Simón prepares to consolidate his position as one of the best goalkeepers of the modern era.