Spain and Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Unai Simón was named the world's best goalkeeper at the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony held in London on Monday, according to TVC News. He finished ahead of nine other nominees for the award. Simón's selection follows a World Cup in which he started every match for Spain and conceded only once across eight games.
Why it matters
The goalkeeper prize sits among the headline honours handed out at the Ballon d'Or, and Simón's win places him above a field that included some of the most established names in the position. TVC News reports that Thibaut Courtois of Real Madrid, Joan García of Barcelona, David Raya of Arsenal and Matvei Safonov of Paris Saint-Germain were among the other contenders. The result reflects a tournament in which Simón was Spain's clear first choice from start to finish.
A World Cup built on clean sheets
Simón's World Cup form was central to the recognition. TVC News reports that he received the World Cup Golden Glove after letting in a single goal over eight matches. He also set a tournament record by going 650 minutes without conceding, a run that stretched back to his last two appearances at the 2022 World Cup and carried through the opening six and a half matches of the 2026 edition.
