Unai Simón breaks World Cup clean-sheet minutes record | OneFootball

Unai Simón has made World Cup history, surpassing Walter Zenga’s 517-minute benchmark for consecutive minutes without conceding. He crossed the mark in the 89th minute of Spain’s 3-0 round-of-32 win over Austria.

El Periódico Mediterráneo reports that the Spain and Athletic Club goalkeeper has written his name into the record books. His run began after Japan’s group-stage goal at Qatar 2022 and he has not been beaten in regulation time since.

The sequence spans four years and two World Cups. It includes the final 39 minutes against Japan in 2022, 120 against Morocco with the shootout not counted, the three 2026 group-stage clean sheets versus Cabo Verde 0-0, Saudi Arabia 4-0 and Uruguay 1-0, then 90 more against Austria.

Earlier in the Austria match, at 48 minutes, Simón eclipsed Iker Casillas’s Spain record of 476 consecutive minutes at World Cups.

Spain’s defensive resilience also delivered the nation’s first World Cup group stage completed without conceding, followed by another clean sheet in the round of 32.

Since taking charge, Luis de la Fuente has backed Simón as his first choice and a dressing-room leader. Days before, Casillas said records are there to be broken and hoped Simón would do it, though he would still prefer Spain to reach the final even if a goal is conceded.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo