The great goalkeepers of the 2026 World Cup: Unai Simón, Dibu Martínez and the surprise of Vózinha
In a World Cup of great scorers, the goalkeepers also had their say. Unai Simón won the Golden Glove with just one goal conceded, Dibu Martínez was named man of the match in the final despite Argentina's defeat, and Vózinha became Cape Verde's unexpected hero. We review the tournament's walls.
Modern football looks a lot at the scorers, but a World Cup is also —and above all— won from the goal. The 2026 edition left memorable displays from keepers who, each in their own way, shaped the fortunes of their nations.
The big winner was Unai Simón, Golden Glove as the tournament's best goalkeeper. The Spain keeper conceded a single goal in eight matches and kept seven clean sheets, including the final, as the wall on which La Roja built their second star. His consistency and composure between the posts were decisive.
Opposite, in the final, another great shone: Emiliano 'Dibu' Martínez. The Argentine keeper was named man of the match in the last game despite defeat, keeping his team alive with fine saves against the Spanish siege. It was his umpteenth great display on a high-pressure stage, a house speciality.
And then there was the surprise: Vózinha, Cape Verde's goalkeeper, who became one of the championship's best through a string of impossible saves and was key to his country's historic debut. Three very different keepers, one same art: that of saying 'no'. See the goalkeepers' profiles and the tournament data on our site.