Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón sets World Cup record with 519 straight scoreless minutes in net

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.

Simón and De La Fuente have been bonded since 2015, when the coach and his 18-year-old keeper won the European Under-19 championship in Greece. They stayed together in Spain's youth system and then reunited in early 2023, when De La Fuente took over the senior national team and promptly embarked on one of the most successful stretches in Spain's proud history.

Under De La Fuente, Spain has just one loss in 37 competitive matches, going unbeaten in its last 35 straight — a streak which includes a loss on penalties to Portugal in the 2025 Nations League. Spain has won the 2023 Nations League and the 2024 European Championship with Simón in net, and now it has won a World Cup knockout match for the first time in 16 years.

Simón and Spain allowed just three goals in four matches at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, but still went home early. Simón's shutout streak started during Spain's 2-1 loss to Japan, and it continued through a scoreless draw with Morocco, which ultimately knocked out Spain by converting three of its four penalties against Simón.

In North America, nobody has been able to beat Simón — and only Uruguay has managed more than one shot on goal among Spain's four opponents.

“(Simón) played a very big role in the victory, but it’s not just about individuals,” De La Fuente said after beating Austria. “It’s about the whole group coming together for that defensive effort.”

Early in the second half against Austria, Simón also surpassed the Spanish record scoreless streak posted by Iker Casillas across the 2010 and 2014 World Cups.

His play has been more than enough to hold off two accomplished challengers as Spain moves forward to the round of 16.

Raya is widely considered one of the world's best goalkeepers after winning three consecutive Golden Glove awards at Arsenal for leading the Premier League in clean sheets. He also backstopped the Gunners to their first Premier League title since 2004 and the Champions League final this year — only to go back to a reserve role for Spain.

García is one of the world's top young talents at the position after seizing Barca's starting job last season, but he's also likely to spend this World Cup as a spectator.

See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here