Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón has the longest shutout streak in World Cup history, breaking a 36-year-old record while blanking Austria in a 3-0 victory Thursday for his fourth consecutive clean sheet in this World Cup.
Simón hasn’t allowed a goal in 519 consecutive minutes across the past two World Cups. He broke the record set in 1990 by famed Italy goalkeeper Walter Zenga, who recorded 517 straight scoreless minutes and five consecutive clean sheets in his home World Cup. The 29-year-old Athletic Bilbao mainstay isn’t the most famous goalkeeper in this competition – or even on his own team – but Simón’s outstanding play at the back of Spain’s superb defense has launched him into the World Cup record books.
Spain has yet to allow a goal at this World Cup, and its Basque backstop has only had to make four saves – none against Austria, which got none of its five shots on target.
“I feel proud of him,” Spain coach Luis De La Fuente said. “I feel like he is a member of my family. I´m very happy for him.” Simón has been Spain’s first choice in net for most of the past half-decade, keeping the job despite roster competition from David Raya and Joan Garcia, the championship-winning goalkeepers in two of Europe’s four biggest leagues. Simón has spent his club career on smaller stages with Bilbao, which only reached the Champions League for the first time in his career last season. Simón owes his international success to his stellar results and to his tight bond with De La Fuente, who has largely resisted calls to give more playing time to his goalkeeping options with more accomplished club careers.