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Before Spain kicked a ball at this World Cup, the biggest debate surrounding the squad wasn't about the midfield, attack, or defense. It was about who should start in goal.

David Raya had just finished another outstanding season with Premier League champions Arsenal. Joan García had established himself as one of Europe's brightest talents with Barcelona. Both had legitimate claims to be Spain's No. 1.

Even first-choice Unai Simón understood why the debate existed. But inside the Spain camp, there was far less uncertainty.

Luis de la Fuente never shared the public's doubts. He consistently spoke about the qualities that made the 29-year-old Athletic Club goalkeeper fundamental to Spain's identity. By the end of the tournament, that faith had been emphatically rewarded.

A Tournament for the Record Books

Simón lifted the World Cup trophy and the Golden Glove award after producing one of the standout goalkeeping performances of the tournament. His seven clean sheets across eight matches set a new men's World Cup record, while his 91.7% save percentage was the best of any goalkeeper in the competition.

He also recorded a World Cup-record streak of 650 consecutive minutes without conceding and outperformed expected goals by 0.7 across the tournament. Spain conceded just one goal in eight games—the fewest by any team in a World Cup-winning campaign.

More Than Just Saves

Those numbers tell only part of the story. Simón's greatest contribution wasn't simply the saves he made, but the situations he prevented from becoming attempts on goal in the first place.

His ability to anticipate rather than react underpins almost every aspect of his game. It allows him to eliminate danger before it develops and shapes the way Spain attack. Throughout the tournament, Spain repeatedly invited pressure onto Simón before exploiting the spaces created elsewhere—a calculated strategy that demands complete trust in the goalkeeper.

Composure Under Pressure

Simón's composure allows Spain to remain patient when many teams would simply clear their lines. His range of passing means opponents can never commit fully to the press. He understands when to continue inviting pressure and when to exploit the space behind it, possessing the vision and technique to turn a harmless phase of possession into a dangerous attack with a single pass.

That balance between patience and pragmatism is one reason De la Fuente remained so committed to him. The bond between manager and goalkeeper has been built over years—they have won the Under-19 and Under-21 European Championships, the UEFA Nations League, Euro 2024, and now the World Cup together.

The Art of Sweeping

Simón finished the tournament with 22 sweeper interventions, more than any other goalkeeper, illustrating how frequently Spain trusted him to defend the spaces behind their aggressive defensive line.

The semifinal against France provided a clear illustration. Against Kylian Mbappé, Simón refused to become passive. Time and again, he stepped forward to smother at attackers' feet, raced from his goal to sweep behind the defense, and denied Mbappé the opportunity to run through on goal.

The final against Argentina offered another reminder. Barely five minutes in, Simón sprinted almost 40 yards from his goal to intercept a through ball before Lionel Messi could reach it. It was exactly the type of situation Spain willingly accept by defending high.

Trust Built Over Time

Every successful intervention reinforces Spain's aggressive defensive approach. It gives defenders the confidence to hold their line, knowing Simón will attack the space behind them. That trust changes the way an entire team defends.

Perhaps the biggest reason De la Fuente's faith never wavered was the simplest: Simón never gave him a reason to make a change. Every major tournament strengthens the relationship between a manager and his goalkeeper. Simón had already helped Spain win the Nations League and Euro 2024. Now he's added the World Cup and Golden Glove.

Spain ask far more of their goalkeeper than simply making saves. In Simón, they have one who delivers on every front.