London, Oct. 26 -- Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon was named Men's Goalkeeper of the Year at the 2026 Ballon d'Or awards ceremony following his impressive performances in the FIFA World Cup, where he played a key role in the national team's title-winning campaign.

Simon, who represents Athletic Club, also claimed the World Cup Golden Glove after producing a series of crucial performances between the posts. He recorded 649 consecutive minutes without conceding a goal during the tournament, surpassing Walter Zenga's previous record of 517 minutes, which had stood since 1990.

The Spanish goalkeeper's composure, positioning and ability to play the ball under pressure proved valuable throughout the competition, as Spain progressed to the final a...