The Athletic Club goalkeeper, Unai Simón, does not appear among the 30 candidates for the Ballon d'Or, despite having been a key player in winning the 2026 World Cup, where he kept the goal without conceding goals in eight games. This omission has raised questions about the inclusion of goalkeepers in the list of the best footballers of the year, since the selection of the award does not explicitly exclude goalkeepers.
In the current edition of the Ballon d'Or, the list of 30 nominees is made up of 13 forwards, seven midfielders and ten defenders, but does not include any goalkeeper. The only historical exception is Lev Yashin, who won the award in 1963 and whose name has become associated with the title of “best goalkeeper.” Since then, and especially since 2014, goalkeepers have been left out of the running, although players such as Oliver Kahn, Gigi Buffon and Manuel Neuer have reached secondary positions in previous years.
Simón's performance in the World Cup, where he kept a clean sheet and contributed decisively to the team's victory, positions him as one of the best goalkeepers in the world. His performance has been described as “human” and “down to earth”, making him a leading example in an environment where goalkeepers are often rated less than outfield players.
The debate over the absence of goalkeepers on the list of nominees raises the need for unions and football federations to claim the fundamental role of goalkeepers. The lack of recognition may be due to the perception that football is a sport dominated by outfield players, but the contribution of a defensive goalkeeper is essential to the success of any team.
As for what's next, the football community continues to discuss the possibility of expanding the Ballon d'Or selection criteria to include goalkeepers. Meanwhile, Unai Simón will continue to be remembered as one of the protagonists of the world triumph, although his name has not appeared on the list of the 30 best footballers of the year.