Athletic Bilbao forward Inaki Williams hailed Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon for his role in La Roja’s 1-0 2026 FIFA World Cup victory in extra time over 10-man holders Argentina on Sunday (July 19) in New Jersey.
The Bilbao custodian was a rock at the back for Luis de la Fuente’s side, keeping seven clean sheets in eight games, conceding only against Belgium in a 2-1 quarter-final win.
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On Sunday, Simon, 29, had no saves to make, as the Albiceleste’s three shots on the La Roja goal – all deep in extra time – were off target. Following La Roja’s second World Cup win, Williams tweeted about his club teammate (as translated from Spanish):
“And people doubted 😂😂😂😂 you’re the best DON SIMON! 🤞🏿”
In 12 overall appearances across two editions in the FIFA World Cup, Williams has had eight clean sheets, with his maiden campaign at Qatar 2022 ending in a Round of 16 shootout loss to Morocco.
Going back to the Albiceleste game, Ferran Torres scored the game’s only goal 16 minutes into the extra period after being set up by fellow substitute Nico Williams, who had an effort ruled out for a foul on Nicolas Otamendi in the build-up.
Unai Simon hails Spain teammates after winning Golden Glove at 2026 FIFA World Cup
Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon expressed his gratitude to his teammates after winning the Golden Glove award at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which La Roja won with a slender extra time victory over holders Argentina on Sunday in New Jersey.
While his opposite number Emiliano Martinez made a World Cup final record 11 saves, Simon was hardly tested by Lionel Scaloni’s side, who played the entire extra time with 10 men following midfielder Enzo Fernandez’s dismissal.
“[My hands] didn’t really have to work that hard [or] as much as other keepers, said Simon (as per ESPN).
“If all of the gloves were able to speak that I have used throughout the entire tournament, what I think is that, at the end of the day, what they would be able to tell you, is that they didn’t have to really work as hard as other keepers. I think that this is due to all of my teammates, for us to have been able to have all of these wins.”
Simon has emulated his compatriot Iker Casillas as the only Spaniards to win the FIFA World Cup Golden Glove, with Casillas captaining Spain to their first World Cup success in South Africa in 2010.
Edited by Bhargav