Spain and Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Unai Simón has been named the 2026 Men’s Best Goalkeeper of the Year at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in London on Monday, following a standout campaign highlighted by his reported performances at the FIFA World Cup.

The 29-year-old emerged ahead of several prominent contenders, including Spain teammate David Raya of Arsenal, Morocco’s Yassine Bounou and Senegal’s Edouard Mendy, to claim the individual honour.

Simón’s recognition followed his impressive displays for Spain at the World Cup, where he reportedly set a record for the most clean sheets in the tournament and won the Golden Glove award.

His achievement further strengthened Spain’s representation among the leading performers recognised at this year’s ceremony.

Meanwhile, Spain and Barcelona Femení goalkeeper Cata Coll claimed the Women’s Best Goalkeeper award, giving Spanish football a double triumph in the goalkeeping categories.

The 25-year-old was recognised following her performances for Barcelona Femení, which won the UEFA Women’s Champions League. Coll also recorded the highest number of clean sheets in the competition.

The two awards highlighted the contributions of Spanish goalkeepers across the men’s and women’s games, with Simón and Coll receiving recognition for their performances at the highest level of European and international football.