Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón has etched his name into football history after becoming the first goalkeeper to go 519 consecutive minutes without conceding a goal at the FIFA World Cup, breaking a record that had stood for 36 years.
The 29-year-old Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper achieved the landmark during Spain’s convincing 3-0 victory over Austria in the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The result also secured Spain’s place in the next round of the tournament.
Simón’s remarkable run stretches across the 2022 and 2026 FIFA World Cups, surpassing the previous record of 517 consecutive minutes set by Italian goalkeeping legend Walter Zenga at the 1990 World Cup. The milestone ends one of the longest-standing records in World Cup history.
Spain remain the only team yet to concede a goal at this year’s tournament, with Simón keeping four consecutive clean sheets. Against Austria, he had little to do as Spain’s disciplined defence prevented their opponents from registering a shot on target.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente praised his goalkeeper after the historic achievement, expressing pride in Simón’s accomplishment and describing him as an important member of the national team.
Having spent his entire club career with Athletic Bilbao, Simón has established himself as Spain’s first-choice goalkeeper and now joins an elite list of football greats after setting a new benchmark on the sport’s biggest stage. With Spain still in contention for the World Cup title, his record-breaking performance has become one of the defining stories of the tournament.
