World Cup
Unai Simón claims the Yashin Trophy, succeeding Donnarumma
At the Ballon d’Or ceremony on Monday evening, the 29‑year‑old goalkeeper Unai Simón received the Yashin Trophy, awarding the best goalkeeper in the world, succeeding Gianluigi Donnarumma who had held it last year. After a season crowned by Spain’s World Cup victory, he was honoured in front of Peter Schmeichel.
High‑flying competitors
The golden gloves were awarded to Simón, while the vote favoured Yassine Bounou, Thibaut Courtois, Joan García, Gregor Kobel, Emiliano Martínez, Édouard Mendy, David Raya, Matveï Safonov and Vozinha. All these keepers had shone at their respective clubs, but none could surpass the Spanish keeper’s performance.
The keeper said he had experienced “the most beautiful summer of his life” after the World Cup win. This sentence reflects the emotion of a player who helped the Blues capture the world title.
During the World Cup, Simón logged 650 minutes without conceding a goal, 133 minutes more than Walter Zenga’s record in 1990. This run reinforced his status as an Iberian wall at the highest level.
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International and club career
Since 2018, he has worn the colours of Athletic Bilbao in La Liga, where he is the first‑choice goalkeeper. He also has 69 caps for Spain’s team, consolidating his role as a pillar of the Blues.
In the women’s game, goalkeeper Cata Coll, who plays for FC Barcelona, won the same trophy. No Dutch goalkeeper has ever reached the podium in this category, highlighting the rarity of Dutch success.
The handover of the trophy from the Italian Donnarumma to the Spanish Simón shows a geographic shift in the world’s best goalkeeper. It confirms that an outstanding performance at a World Cup can turn individual recognition into a lasting accolade.