Who is Spain's goalkeeper? Meet Unai Simon, the stone wall with most shutouts in a World Cup

Spain reached Sunday's World Cup final against Argentina on the back of a defense that has barely been touched, and the man behind it has quietly set a tournament record along the way.

Unai Simon has kept six clean sheets at this World Cup, the most by any goalkeeper in a single tournament, and has conceded just one goal across seven matches.

Here's who he is, and why Luis de la Fuente keeps picking him over one of Europe's most in-form goalkeepers.

2026 WORLD CUP HQ: Latest World Cup news | Full World Cup schedule | Buy World Cup tickets

Who is Unai Simon?

Unai Simon Mendibil is a 29-year-old goalkeeper from Amurrio, in Spain's Basque Country. He joined Athletic Club's academy in 2011 and has never left the club, working his way up through the reserves before a short loan move to Elche fell through and he was recalled to Bilbao instead, where he became first-choice keeper in 2018.

He plays as a modern sweeper-keeper, comfortable passing out from the back and quick to come off his line, alongside a reputation for sharp shot-stopping and calm positioning. He's been Spain's No. 1 for most of the past five years, and his bond with national team coach Luis de la Fuente goes back further than that. The two won the European Under-19 Championship together in 2015, when De la Fuente was in charge of Spain's youth side and Simon was his goalkeeper.

Unai Simon World Cup stats

Simon has been the standout figure behind Spain's defense all tournament. He broke a 36-year-old World Cup record for consecutive scoreless minutes by a goalkeeper, going 650 minutes without conceding, past Italy's Walter Zenga, who held the record at 517 minutes since 1990. The streak finally ended in the 41st minute of Spain's quarterfinal win over Belgium, when Charles De Ketelaere scored with a header.

Outside that one goal, Simon hasn't been beaten. He has six clean sheets from seven matches this World Cup, the most by a goalkeeper in a single tournament, and heads into the final with a save percentage of 90 percent, having stopped every other shot on target he's faced.

It's a different story from Spain's last World Cup. At Qatar 2022, Simon started every match, conceded three goals in four games, and the team was eliminated by Morocco on penalties in the Round of 16.

What club team does Unai Simon play for?

Simon plays for Athletic Club, the only club he's ever played for as a senior.

He's made more than 200 appearances for the Basque club, won the Spanish Super Cup in 2020/21 after beating Barcelona 3-2 in the final, and won the Zamora Trophy in 2023/24, awarded to La Liga's goalkeeper with the fewest goals conceded. Athletic reached the Champions League for the first time in his career last season.

MORE WORLD CUP NEWS:

• Odds, spread for Spain vs. Argentina World Cup final
• Printable World Cup bracket
• World Cup prize money breakdown

Why does Spain play Unai Simon instead of David Raya?

Simon is Spain's first choice because De la Fuente trusts him, and because Simon has delivered every time he's been asked.

Under De la Fuente, Spain won the 2023 Nations League and Euro 2024 with Simon in goal, and he's kept the shirt despite competition from a goalkeeper with a stronger club resume.

David Raya has won three straight Golden Gloves at Arsenal for leading the Premier League in clean sheets, helped the club win its first league title since 2004 and reached this year's Champions League final, yet he remains on the bench for Spain.

Simon has addressed the competition directly. "David Raya was also for me the best goalkeeper of the Premier League," he said. "This makes me proud and motivates me to work even harder every day."

De la Fuente has defended the choice in similar terms. "It would be unfair if we didn't value Unai Simon's quality, class, career, and professional experience," he said. "When a goalkeeper is at this level, you have to respect his standing and his career."

Unai Simon age

Simon was born on June 11, 1997, making him 29 years old at this World Cup. He stands at 1.90 meters, or roughly 6-foot-3.