Spain's 'rock-solid defence' powers Unai Simon to FIFA World Cup Golden Glove award

By SABC Sport
20th July 2026

Unai Simon believes Spain's outstanding defence was the biggest reason behind their 2026 FIFA World Cup triumph, admitting his job was made far easier by the players in front of him.

Spain completed a remarkable tournament by beating Argentina 1-0 in the final, securing a record seventh clean sheet of the competition. Luis de la Fuente's side conceded just one goal in the entire tournament and restricted Argentina to only two shots in the final, with neither troubling Simon.

The goalkeeper received the Golden Glove award as the tournament's best goalkeeper, but he insisted the honour belonged as much to his teammates as it did to him.

"My hands didn't really have to work that hard compared to other goalkeepers," Simon said through an interpreter.

"If all of the gloves I used during the tournament could speak, they would probably tell you they didn't have to work as hard as other keepers.

"I think that is because of all of my teammates and what they did for us to achieve these victories."

Spain's defensive record surpassed that of the country's 2010 World Cup-winning side, which had previously shared the record for the fewest goals conceded by a champion after allowing just two goals.

Several members of that famous squad, including Iker Casillas, Xavi HernÃƒ¡ndez, Andres Iniesta, Carles Puyol and Sergio Ramos, watched from the stands at MetLife Stadium as the new generation wrote its own chapter in Spanish football history.

The only team to score against Spain during the tournament was Belgium in the 2-1 quarter-final defeat. After that, Spain kept clean sheets against France and Argentina, shutting out two of the greatest attacking players in football history, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi.

Argentina struggled to break through Spain's disciplined defence, finishing the final having been outshot 20-2. Their first attempt came only in extra time.

While Simon made just 14 saves throughout the tournament, Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was far busier in the final, producing a record 11 saves to keep his side in the contest.

For Simon, however, Spain's World Cup success was built on teamwork and defensive discipline.