Unai Simón is one away from the historic record for goals to zero in the

According to Championat.

Context

Unai Simón, Selección de España goalkeeper, stood out in the 2026 World Cup final, where he kept a clean sheet against Argentina. With 9 clean sheets in World Cups, he now sits third on the all-time list, behind only Barthez and Shilton. His performance is crucial to the Selección's season, especially with the 2026 World Cup on the horizon.

Why this matters

Unai Simón's performance in the 2026 World Cup final not only secured Spain's victory but also solidified his position as one of the best goalkeepers in the competition's history. With 9 clean sheets, he is now just one game away from equaling the all-time record of 10 held by Fabien Barthez and Peter Shilton. This achievement highlights Simón's importance for the Selección and his relevance for the team's future in the 2026 World Cup.

Main conclusions

Unai Simón is one away from the all-time record for goals to zero in.
Unai Simón scored the goal in the 2026 World Cup final and was one game away from equaling the absolute record for goals to zero in World Cups.
Симон — в шаге от повторения рекорда на ЧМ.

Unai Simón produced yet another extremely solid performance in goal for the Spanish team and finished without conceding a goal in the 2026 World Cup final, won by Spain against Argentina 1-0 after extra time. With this “zero goal”, the La Roja goalkeeper isolated himself in the historic third place in the ranking of games without conceding goals in the final stages of the World Cup.

According to the tournament's records, Simón now has 9 clean sheets in 12 World Cup matches, of which 6 took place in the 2026 edition. Ahead of him are just two legendary names: the Frenchman Fabien Barthez and the Englishman Peter Shilton, both with 10 World Cup games without conceding a goal, in 17 matches played. Barthez and Shilton's record constitutes the historic ceiling of the competition and is therefore just one game away for the Spanish international.

The feat achieved in the decision against Argentina allowed Simón to surpass a group of six goalkeepers who have recorded 8 “goals to zero” in the history of the World Cup. They are: Hugo Lloris (France), with 8 in 20 games; Thibaut Courtois (Belgium), 8 in 21; Cláudio Taffarel (Brazil), 8 out of 18; Émerson Leão (Brazil), 8 out of 14; Sepp Maier (Germany), 8 out of 18; and Jan Jongbloed (Netherlands), 8 out of 12. This is a reference batch on the world stage, which further highlights the scope of the Spanish number 1's performance.

The “goals to zero” record in the World Cup aggregates the games played over the various editions by each goalkeeper and is an indicator of defensive consistency at the highest level. By registering 6 games without conceding goals in the current edition, Simón consolidated a remarkable cycle and put himself one step closer to equaling the absolute record of Barthez and Shilton — something he can pursue in his next appearance in the final stages.

For Spain, the final won against Argentina (1-0, after extra time) also reinforces the importance of the defensive balance displayed throughout the tournament. In the individual chapter, Unai Simón ends the 2026 World Cup in the spotlight, with a record that places him among the historical elite of goalkeepers on the biggest stage of world football and leaves open the possibility of writing a new record page in future campaigns.

What happens next

As the season progresses, the expectation is that Unai Simón will continue to be a fundamental player in Spain's goal, especially with the challenges that will come in the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. His performance could influence the team's confidence and its trajectory in future competitions. Furthermore, the pressure to equal or surpass the goal-scoring record may motivate you to maintain a high level of performance.

Frequently asked questions

What was the score of the match between Spain and Argentina in the 2026 World Cup final?

Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time.

How many clean sheets does Unai Simón have in the World Cups?

Unai Simón has 9 matches without conceding goals in 12 played in World Cups.

Who are the goalkeepers with the most clean sheets in World Cup history?

The goalkeepers with the most clean sheets are Fabien Barthez and Peter Shilton, both with 10 games.

How did Spain's victory impact Unai Simón's historic ranking?

With the victory, Unai Simón placed himself in historic third place in the ranking of games without conceding goals in the final stages of the World Cup.

What is the next tournament the Spanish national team will compete in after the 2026 World Cup?

The next tournament in which the Spanish team will compete is the 2026 World Cup.