Spain v England: How Unai Simon became world's best goalkeeper

BBC Sport Football Nov 15, 2026 07:35 1 min read 1 reads

As Spain prepare to host England in the Nations League, BBC Sport columnist Guillem Balague charts the rise of Unai Simon to become the world's best keeper.

ByGuillem BalagueBBC Sport columnist

Published6 minutes ago

Peter Schmeichel handed Unai Simon the Yashin Trophy and the room applauded warmly. Then the world's best goalkeeper spent his time talking about everybody else.

Simon thanked his parents and his brother. He thanked his girlfriend for being an "oasis of tranquillity", and the friends from home who remind him that "many of us in this room are privileged".

'La cuadrilla', the gang of lifelong friends that is a traditional part of Basque culture, has a WhatsApp group of its own, and he takes them on holiday every summer.