Athletic Club and Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón won the Yashin Trophy for the world’s best men’s goalkeeper at the Ballon d’Or gala in London on 26 October 2026. It is the first time a Spanish keeper has taken the award.
Here is what the Unai Simón Yashin Trophy win means, who he beat, and why it matters for Spanish football.
Key takeaways
- Simón won the 2026 men’s Yashin Trophy at the London Palladium on 26 October 2026.
- He was one of ten shortlisted keepers, including Emiliano Martínez, Thibaut Courtois, David Raya and Joan García.
- The Ballon d’Or account announced him as the 2026 men’s goalkeeper of the year.
- Cata Coll of Barcelona won the women’s goalkeeper award.
- Gianluigi Donnarumma, the 2025 winner, was not on this year’s shortlist.
Who won the Yashin Trophy in 2026?
Simón did. The prize was handed out at the Ballon d’Or ceremony at the London Palladium, according to Sports Illustrated. Live coverage from Basque outlet Deia reported the same result.
The Yashin Trophy is named after Soviet goalkeeper Lev Yashin and is run by France Football alongside the Ballon d’Or. Voters are asked to weigh individual performances first, then team success, then fair play.
Why did Simón win it?
The case rests mostly on the 2026 World Cup, where Spain won the title. Spanish and international reports credit Simón with the tournament’s Golden Glove and say he conceded very few goals across the competition. Reports differ on the exact count, so check the official match records before quoting a figure.
He also plays his club football at Athletic Club, a team that only fields players with roots in the Basque Country. That makes a world-best award for one of its players unusual. In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, a headline quote says the highest heights can be reached defending Athletic’s colours.
Who did Simón beat?
Ten men’s goalkeepers made the shortlist, which Sports Illustrated published in full. Vote totals and the full ranking were not available in the sources I could open, so I am not quoting any.
| Nominee | Notable context |
|---|---|
| Unai Simón | Winner; Spain and Athletic Club |
| Emiliano Martínez | Won the trophy in 2023 and 2024 |
| Thibaut Courtois | Won in 2022 |
| David Raya | Spain team-mate |
| Joan García | Spain team-mate |
| Yassine Bounou, Gregor Kobel, Édouard Mendy, Matvey Safonov, Vozinha | Also shortlisted |
How does he fit in the Yashin Trophy’s history?
The award launched in 2019, and no Spanish keeper had won it before. Here is the list of men’s winners, as compiled by Sports Illustrated.
- 2019: Alisson Becker
- 2020: not awarded (COVID-19)
- 2021: Gianluigi Donnarumma
- 2022: Thibaut Courtois
- 2023: Emiliano Martínez
- 2024: Emiliano Martínez
- 2025: Gianluigi Donnarumma
- 2026: Unai Simón
Donnarumma and Martínez are the only two-time winners. Simón now joins a list that has never repeated a country’s keeper bar Italy and Argentina.
What did Simón say?
Diario AS framed the story around legacy, with a headline quoting Simón: what matters is the legacy a player leaves. Reports say he dedicated the award to his partner, his family and his group of childhood friends, the cuadrilla.
My view, and it is only an opinion: goalkeeper awards often follow tournaments, because a keeper’s best work is easiest to see over seven short matches. Simón fits that pattern, but a trophy from voters is still a fair verdict on a title-winning run.
What happens next
Simón returns to Athletic Club duty and the Spain squad, where he will face the question every award winner faces: repeat or fade. The next Yashin Trophy shortlist should arrive around the 2027 Ballon d’Or nominations. Donnarumma and Martínez show a second win is possible.
FAQ
What is the Yashin Trophy?
It is the Ballon d’Or ceremony’s award for the best goalkeeper of the season, named after Lev Yashin and organised by France Football.
Did Unai Simón win the Ballon d’Or?
No. He won the Yashin Trophy, which is a separate award for goalkeepers presented at the same gala.
Who won the women’s goalkeeper award?
Barcelona’s Cata Coll, according to reports of the 26 October 2026 ceremony.
Next step: scan the full shortlist on Sports Illustrated and see where your favourite keeper finished once France Football publishes the rankings.
Leave a comment