Unai Simón shatters three‑decade World Cup clean‑sheet record

Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simón has set a new World Cup clean‑sheet record, eclipsing the previous 517‑minute mark that Walter Zenga held since Italy 1990. His unbeaten run now stretches beyond the three‑decade‑old benchmark, establishing the longest streak in tournament history. Walter Zenga's record of 517 minutes was set at the 1990 World Cup in Italy. That benchmark remained untouched for more than three decades before Simón surpassed it. Simón's clean‑sheet streak began at the Qatar 2022 tournament, where he kept the final 39 minutes of the match against Japan without conceding. He then completed the full Round of 16 encounter with Morocco, including extra‑time, without allowing a goal.

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The run continued into the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where Simón maintained the record across Spain's first four matches. In doing so, he overtook legendary keepers Iker Casillas, Gordon Shilton, Sepp Maier and Gianluigi Buffon. The achievement underscores the defensive solidity of Luis de la Fuente's Spanish side. Spain progressed to the knockout stage without conceding a single goal in the group phase.

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Spain also preserved that defensive strength in its first do‑or‑die match of the tournament. The record highlights the team's continued resilience under de la Fuente.