Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon has called his country's FIFA World Cup 2026 triumph pure “madness,” saying the full weight of the achievement will only sink in once La Roja returns home. Simon, 29, was awarded the Golden Glove after keeping seven clean sheets in eight matches — a record in World Cup history — as Spain claimed the title for the first time in 16 years.

Historic Final in New York

Spain were crowned world champions for the second time in their history after defeating Argentina 1-0 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final on Sunday in New York, New Jersey. The win, masterminded by head coach Luis de la Fuente, cements Spain’s status as the only nation to simultaneously hold both the men’s and women’s World Cup titles — having won the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023.

Simon’s Record-Breaking Gloves

Simon’s seven clean sheets surpass the previous benchmark of five, a mark shared by seven legendary goalkeepers: the Netherlands’ Jan Jongbloed in 1974, Italy’s Walter Zenga in 1990, Brazil’s Claudio Taffarel in 1994, France’s Fabien Barthez in 1998, Germany’s Oliver Kahn in 2002, Italy’s Gianluigi Buffon in 2006, and Spain’s own Iker Casillas in 2010. The record is all the more remarkable given that Spain played eight matches across the tournament.

What Simon Said

Speaking to Mundo Deportivo, Simon was candid about the delayed emotional response. “We’re still processing it,” he said. “I didn’t feel any emotion when the referee blew the final whistle; it was more like: we have achieved it, we have achieved it. When we arrive in Spain we will realise the madness we have done.”

He also credited the team’s extended 50-day training camp and De la Fuente’s man-management for keeping the squad cohesive. “In such a long training camp, 50 days, it’s important to maintain the feeling and the balance between those who play more and those who play less, and in that respect, the manager is exceptional. He has managed all the players’ emotions very well,” Simon added.

Deflecting the Credit

Despite walking away with the Golden Glove, Simon was characteristically humble about Spain’s defensive record. “If my gloves during the World Cup could talk, they would say that they haven’t had to work as much as those of other goalkeepers’. Leaving seven clean sheets are numbers that are going to cost a lot to overcome and I don’t attribute the merit to myself but to my teammates. I am grateful to my teammates for the defensive level,” he said.

What This Means for Spanish Football

Spain’s double World Cup reign — men’s and women’s simultaneously — is without precedent in football history. The victory also signals the arrival of a new golden generation under De la Fuente, following the iconic era of Casillas, Xavi, and Andres Iniesta. With the squad’s average age still relatively low, Spain will be among the favourites at the 2030 World Cup as well. A homecoming celebration is expected upon the team’s return to Spain.