Full List of FIFA World Cup Golden Glove Winners from 1994 to 2026

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon has joined football's elite after winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup Golden Glove, becoming only the second Spaniard to receive the award for the tournament's best goalkeeper.

The Golden Glove, first introduced in 1994 as the Yashin Trophy in honor of legendary Soviet goalkeeper Lev Yashin, recognizes the World Cup's outstanding goalkeeper based on overall performances rather than the number of clean sheets alone. Since 2010, the award has officially been known as the Golden Glove.

According to Sports Illustrated (SI.com), Simón embodied both criteria in the 2026 tournament. The Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper kept seven clean sheets as Spain lifted its second men's World Cup title, anchoring one of the most dominant defensive campaigns in tournament history.

Simón's achievement places him alongside Spain legend Iker Casillas, who won the award after leading La Roja to its first World Cup title in 2010.

Full List of FIFA World Cup Golden Glove Winners

Belgian goalkeeper Michel Preud'homme became the inaugural recipient in 1994 after helping Belgium reach the Round of 16. France's Fabien Barthez followed four years later, recording five clean sheets as Les Bleus won the World Cup on home soil.

Germany's Oliver Kahn earned the honor in 2002 after one of the greatest goalkeeping performances in tournament history, while Gianluigi Buffon received the award in 2006 after Italy conceded only one goal from open play throughout the competition.

Casillas claimed the first Golden Glove under its current name in 2010, producing several decisive saves as Spain secured its maiden World Cup crown. Four years later, Germany's Manuel Neuer was recognized for redefining the modern sweeper-keeper role during Germany's title-winning campaign in Brazil.

Belgium's Thibaut Courtois received the award in 2018 despite his country finishing third, while Argentina's Emiliano Martínez won in 2022 after playing a decisive role in penalty shootout victories over the Netherlands and France, including a crucial save against Randal Kolo Muani in the final.

As reported by SI.com, Simón's 2026 campaign stood out for Spain's remarkable control throughout the tournament. The goalkeeper kept seven clean sheets while facing relatively few threats, making only 10 saves across the competition as La Roja dominated possession in most matches.

FIFA World Cup Golden Glove Winners by Country

With Simón's triumph, Spain joined Belgium and Germany as the only nations to produce multiple Golden Glove winners. Of the nine recipients since the award's introduction, six also helped their countries win the World Cup.

Simón's latest accolade adds another chapter to Spain's memorable 2026 campaign, reinforcing his status as one of the world's leading goalkeepers after playing a pivotal role in La Roja's return to the summit of international football.

Read: Unai Simon Emerges as Favorite for 2026 World Cup Golden Glove

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