Unai Simon admits he 'didn't have to work that hard' during Spain's World Cup glory
Golden Glove winner Unai Simon credited his teammates for Spain's defensive masterclass, which saw them concede just one goal throughout their 2026 World Cup triumph.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: Bryan Berlin
Spain secured their second World Cup title in a defensive masterclass that rewrote the tournament's history books. La Roja marched to global glory by conceding only a single goal throughout the entire competition, shattering the previous record of two goals allowed held by Spain (2010), Italy (2006), and France (1998).
The only side to find the net against Spain was Belgium during a 2-1 quarter-final victory. Following that, the team kept successive clean sheets against powerhouses like France and Argentina to claim the trophy. While Unai Simon was awarded the Golden Glove as the tournament's premier goalkeeper, the Athletic Bilbao shot-stopper was quick to redirect the praise to his backline.
"If all of the gloves were able to speak that I have used throughout the entire tournament, what they would tell you is that, at the end of the day, they didn't have to really work as hard as other keepers," Simon said. "This is due to all of my teammates for us to have been able to have all of these wins."
The statistical disparity in the final was clear: Simon recorded only 14 saves across the entire month, while Argentina's Emiliano Martinez was forced into 11 saves in the final match alone. Spain's attacking unit dominated territory, outshooting their opponents 20-2, leaving Argentina struggling for service until extra time.
This triumph cemented a remarkable era under Luis de la Fuente, who has now added the 2026 World Cup to his 2023 UEFA Nations League and Euro 2024 titles. Becoming the oldest coach to win a World Cup, De la Fuente has extended Spain's unbeaten run to 38 matches, cementing his legacy among the nation's greatest coaches.