Unai Simon’s clean sheet ends during the FIFA World Cup match between Spain and Belgium

Charles De Ketelaere scored for Belgium against Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-final in Los Angeles on Friday, ending Unai Simon’s long-standing clean sheet record.

The Spanish goalkeeper had not given any return in the 649 minutes of play at the World Cup before the Belgian attack.

During the match against Austria in the Round of 32, Simon broke the record of Italian Walter Zenga, who did not concede a goal for 517 minutes and recorded five clean sheets in a row during the 1990 World Cup.

Simon, who plays for LaLiga side Athletic Bilbao, last conceded in the 51st minute during the group match against Japan at the 2022 World Cup, which the country lost 2-1.

He then kept a clean sheet against Morocco in the round of 16, which Spain only lost on penalties.

The 29-year-old was the best in this edition of the World Cup, not conceding a single goal as Spain progressed through the group stages and reached the quarter-finals after beating Portugal 1-0.

Published on July 11, 2026