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FIFA World Cup Golden Glove Winners List (1994–2026): Unai Simon From Spain Wins in 2026

Unai Simon of Spain made it a remarkable FIFA World Cup 2026 after receiving the esteemed Golden Glove award that acknowledges the best goalkeeper in the tournament. He played a vital part in the title victory of Spain by keeping seven clean sheets and giving away just one goal during the tournament as La Roja achieved a 1-0 win over Argentina in the final after extra time. His exceptional showings made it to the top echelon of great goalkeepers in football. Here’s everything to know about the FIFA World Cup Golden Glove and the full list of winners.

What is Known as the FIFA World Cup Golden Glove Award?

The FIFA World Cup Golden Glove award is given to the best goalkeeper in the tournament.

The award comes with various criteria. FIFA looks at the following,

  • Overall goalkeeping performance
  • Total crucial saves
  • Consistency in performance
  • Control over the penalty area
  • Influence on the success of the team

The award was called the Lev Yashin award before it became known as the Golden Glove award, to honor the legendary goalkeeper from the USSR, Lev Yashin, who was the very first goalkeeper ever to win the Ballon d’Or.

Since the 1994 FIFA World Cup, the Golden Glove award has been presented at every FIFA World Cup game.

FIFA World Cup Golden Glove 2026 Awarded to Unai Simon

Unai Simon served the best goalkeeping performances in the World Cup history that helped Spain win the tournament.

The Athletic Club goalkeeper ended the tournament with the,

  • 7 clean sheets
  • Only one goal conceded
  • Outstanding performances through the knockout rounds
  • Confidence in distribution and great leadership in the box

His consistency in performances made him the choice for the Golden Glove award.

Complete FIFA World Cup Golden Glove Winners List (1994-2026)

Year Golden Glove Winner Country
1994 Michel Preud’homme Belgium
1998 Fabien Barthez France
2002 Oliver Kahn Germany
2006 Gianluigi Buffon Italy
2010 Iker Casillas Spain
2014 Manuel Neuer Germany
2018 Thibaut Courtois Belgium
2022 Emiliano Martinez Argentina
2026 Unai Simon Spain

Golden Glove winners and World Champions

Winning the Golden Glove and the World Cup in a World Cup tournament is not a small accomplishment.

The goalkeepers who managed this are as follows,

  • Fabien Barthez (France, 1998)
  • Gianluigi Buffon (Italy, 2006)
  • Iker Casillas (Spain, 2010)
  • Emiliano Martinez (Argentina, 2022)
  • Unai Simon (Spain, 2026)

These goalkeepers played a big role in their respective national teams winning the biggest football trophy of all time.

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Shivam
Shivam
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As a Content Executive Writer at Adda247, I am dedicated to helping students stay ahead in their competitive exam preparation by providing clear, engaging, and insightful coverage of both major and minor current affairs. With a keen focus on trends and developments that can be crucial for exams, researches and presents daily news in a way that equips aspirants with the knowledge and confidence they need to excel. Through well-crafted content, Its my duty to ensures that learners remain informed, prepared, and ready to tackle any current affairs-related questions in their exams.

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