Unai Simón: the goalkeeper who had nothing to do for 430 minutes

Unai Simón played all 270 minutes of the three group-stage matches at the 2026 World Cup. The moments that truly forced him to leap at full stretch could barely fill a three-minute highlight reel. His stats taken alone read like a third-choice goalkeeper's preseason record.

430 minutes, zero goals conceded.

87 minutes short of Walter Zenga's World Cup record of 517 minutes, set in 1990. 46 minutes short of Iker Casillas' Spanish goalkeeper World Cup record of 476 minutes.

430 minutes spanning two World Cups. Starting from the 51st minute against Japan in Qatar 2022, plus the 120 minutes against Morocco. In 2026, three matches against Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay, totaling 270 minutes. For four years, Simón hasn't conceded a goal in the World Cup.

Spain didn't concede a single goal in three group-stage matches, setting a team record for the first clean sheets in the opening three games of a single World Cup. Don't rush to build a statue for the goalkeeper. Simón, Laporte, Cubarsí, and Cucurella are the only four players on the team to have played every minute of the three group-stage matches. The midfield and forward lines rotated as needed—Marcos Llorente, Pedri, and Oyarzabal took turns resting—but the defensive quartet wasn't allowed a single minute off.

A goalkeeper with nothing to do means the defenders have handled all the dirty work. The opposition's attacks were neutralized before reaching Simón.

The match against Uruguay was the most revealing. Spain's goal came from a Muslera error, and the Uruguayan goalkeeper mentally collapsed on the spot, asking to be substituted at halftime. Winning so comfortably that the opponent clocked out early. Simón wasn't exactly lounging on the goal line, though. Uruguay grew desperate in the second half, raining crosses and shots his way, and he made several crucial saves to keep the lead intact. That was the only stretch in the entire group stage that made him sweat a little. Nico Williams came off the bench in the 76th minute and ran around without causing much stir.

Before the tournament, the Spanish media debated whether Simón or Joan García should start. Purely manufactured controversy. Simón is the starting goalkeeper who led Spain to the European Championship and the Nations League titles. De la Fuente stuck with him based on the iron law of major tournaments: starting champions and locker room chemistry always outweigh league-form flashes. After three group-stage matches, no one brought up the topic anymore. The media argued for a while, but the coach never intended to change his keeper and didn't bother explaining.

In this World Cup group stage, only Spain and Mexico have yet to concede a goal.

Thursday in Los Angeles, the Round of 32 match against Austria. Group stages are fertile ground for padding stats; the real test comes in the knockout rounds. After 87 minutes, Zenga's name will yield its place in the record books. If he holds on for another 46 minutes, Casillas' team record will be his as well. Both records could fall in the same match.

Simón only needs to keep his goal safe for 87 minutes in Los Angeles. Provided the defensive wall in front of him doesn't collapse first.