Unai Simón

Unai Simón Mendibil (born 11 June 1997) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for club Athletic Bilbao and the Spain national team. Regarded as a world-class goalkeeper, he won the 2026 FIFA World Cup with Spain and was awarded the Golden Glove as the tournament's best goalkeeper.

Simón has spent his entire club career with Athletic, developing with their youth academy, farm team and reserves and making his senior debut in 2018, amassing 200 appearances by 2025.

Simón made his senior international debut for Spain in 2020 and played at UEFA Euro 2020, the 2022 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2024 and the 2026 FIFA World Cup; at Euro 2024, he featured in all but one match as Spain won the tournament, and at the 2026 World Cup set an all-time tournament record as he conceded just one goal (against Belgium) in eight matches and won the Golden Glove award as his country again finished as champions for the second time in their history.

Early life Simón's father, a member of the Guardia Civil from the Province of Zamora, was assigned to a security posting in the Basque Country where he met Unai's mother, a member of the Ertzaintza (the local police force); their son was born in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Álava, Basque Country, and raised in the nearby village of Murgia.

He joined Athletic Bilbao's youth system in 2011 from Aurrerá Vitoria, lodging with a family in the Bilbao area. On 8 June 2016, he was promoted to the reserves, recently relegated to the Segunda División B. He immediately became a starter for the side, contributing with 29 appearances during the campaign. but continued to appear exclusively for the B-team. On 13 July 2018, he signed a contract extension until 2023, and was loaned to Segunda División side Elche two weeks later.

On 15 August 2018, after Kepa Arrizabalaga's departure from the club and Iago Herrerín's injury, Simón was recalled by Athletic before he had played a match for Elche. He initially appeared to be behind the older Álex Remiro in the queue for selection, but made his professional – and La Liga – debut five days later, starting in a 2–1 home win against Leganés. In just his third appearance in the top division, Simón played in a 1–1 draw with Real Madrid where he made several key saves and was named player of the match. However, when Herrerín regained full fitness in October 2018 he was made the starting goalkeeper, with Simón's only appearances over the subsequent four months coming in the Copa del Rey. He continued his strong form throughout the season, missing two fixtures with illness and completing 33 matches in the league, conceding 29 goals to finish third in the Zamora Trophy rankings. On the 37th, penultimate, matchday, he was sent off during the first half against Leganés for a 'last man' challenge outside the penalty area, with the resultant suspension ending his season a game early; with ten men, Athletic Bilbao lost 2–0 to end their slim hopes of qualifying for the UEFA Europa League.

In August 2020, he signed a new contract with the club running to the summer of 2025, with no buyout clause. In January 2021, he saved a penalty from Getafe's Jaime Mata. The following month he had a decisive role in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey, stopping two of the three penalties in the shootout at the Estadio Benito Villamarín against Real Betis.

During the 2021–22 season, he kept his place in the starting lineup and had several impressive performances, the most notable being against Levante and Getafe (both matches ending goalless). In the following season, with the arrival of Ernesto Valverde, he maintained his role as an undisputed starter in the league and performed at a good level. On 10 November 2023, in "one of his best moments as a professional", he saved a penalty from Celta Vigo striker Iago Aspas to keep the score level in a game his team went on to win. On 16 March 2024, he stopped another penalty from Luis Rioja of Alavés, starting a move which culminated in a goal for Athletic forty seconds later as they again went on to win; in addition, he consolidated his position as leader in the Zamora Trophy with his 15th clean sheet in the league. Having been the starter for Copa del Rey final defeats in 2020 and 2021, he played no active part as the club finally won the trophy in April 2024, watching from the bench as understudy Julen Agirrezabala was selected for all rounds of the tournament. At the end of the season, Simón extended his contract to 2029.

In October 2024, Simón was ranked in second place for the Yashin Trophy. He was unavailable for the first four months of the 2024–25 season due to rehabilitation after surgery on his wrist, which was carried out immediately after the Euros tournament ended. He made his 200th appearance for Athletic Bilbao in January 2025.

International career

Youth Simón was selected for Spain at under-19 and under-21 levels. He was a member of the squad that won the 2015 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, albeit as the backup goalkeeper to Antonio Sivera during the tournament. In the same year he was in the Basque Country under-18 team that won the . He was selected for the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, playing the first game of the group stage as Spain once more finished as champions (Sivera was again first-choice). Despite having made an error which led to a goal at club level a few days earlier, he debuted in a friendly match against the Netherlands on 11 November, playing the entire match.

On 24 May 2021, Simón was included in Luis Enrique's 24-man squad for UEFA Euro 2020. Having displaced David de Gea as first-choice, he started all of the team's matches, and caused an own goal in the 5–3 round of 16 victory against Croatia when he was unable to control a long backwards pass by Pedri. Luis Enrique praised his mentality for having recovered from that mistake. He eventually saved two penalties as Spain won the shootout against Switzerland in the quarter-finals after a 1–1 draw, The semi-final against Italy ended with the same score, and Simón saved the first attempt in the shootout by Manuel Locatelli, but the Italians prevailed. Simón was also called up for the Spanish Olympic team for the delayed 2020 tournament in Japan. With Simón as the starting goalkeeper they reached the final, but lost to Brazil.

Simón was the starter at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, in which Spain progressed from their group with a victory, draw, and defeat – before losing 3–0 on penalties to Morocco in the round of 16 after a goalless draw. He saved from Badr Benoun, but the three of teammates failed with their efforts. Spain had better fortune in the 2023 UEFA Nations League final one year later, where another goalless draw against Croatia was followed by a 5–4 victory in the shootout to claim the title, Simón blocking attempts from Lovro Majer and Bruno Petković.

On 7 June 2024, Simón was named in Spain's squad for European Championships the same year. He started and played all matches except the final group stage match. In the latter, Simón played the full 90 minutes of the final as Spain beat England to become European champions for the fourth time.

On 25 May 2026, Simón was named in Spain's squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He kept four clean sheets in the opening four matches of the tournament, and including the Morocco match from the previous edition, he equalled then passed Walter Zenga's record of five consecutive clean sheets set in 1990, reaching a total of 519 minutes without conceding, two minutes more than the previous benchmark. His record was later extended following Spain's 1–0 victory against Portugal in the round of 16, reaching 609 minutes and six clean sheets, and was further extended to a total of 650 minutes before Charles De Ketelaere of Belgium scored an equaliser in the quarterfinals, though Spain still progressed 2–1. That proved to be his only concession in the tournament as Spain defeated France 2–0, and Argentina 1–0 (after extra time) to win the tournament, with Simón being awarded the Golden Glove. With seven clean sheets, Simón set a new record for the most clean sheets recorded by a goalkeeper in a single World Cup tournament performance.

Style of play Simón is mainly known for his strong positioning, distribution, and anticipation as a goalkeeper. Being quick off his line and comfortable with the ball at his feet, he often acts as a sweeper keeper. He is also effective at stopping penalties. His Spain national team manager Luis de la Fuente has described him as "one of the best goalkeepers in the world."

Career statistics Club + Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

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2014–15 Tercera División

2015–16

Honours

Athletic Bilbao Copa del Rey: 2023–24 Supercopa de España: 2021

Spain U19 UEFA European Under-19 Championship: 2015

Spain U23 Summer Olympic silver medal: 2020 UEFA European Championship: 2024 UEFA Nations League: 2022–23; runner-up: 2024–25

Individual UEFA La Liga Revelation Team of the Year: 2019–20 La Liga Team of the Season: 2023–24 La Liga Zamora Trophy: 2023–24 IFFHS Men's UEFA Team: 2024 FIFA World Cup Golden Glove: 2026