Completely incomprehensible, for Carlos Zaballa
Why it matters
The controversy surrounding Unai Simón's exclusion from the 2026 World Cup squad has raised questions about goalkeeper evaluation and fan recognition. Despite his extraordinary achievements, such as the unbeaten record, the choice of Vozinha as the best goalkeeper left many perplexed. This calls into question the selection criteria and the value placed on individual performances in the context of such a prestigious tournament.
Key points
- Completely incomprehensible, for Carlos Zaballa.
- Unai Simón, despite being the least beaten goalkeeper in the history of the World Cup, was not included in the ideal eleven, sparking controversy among the fans.
- Completely incomprehensible, by Carlos Zaballa.
The 2026 World Cup has given us a nice surprise. Africa made history in this World Cup, and Green Guinea goalkeeper Vozinha will go down in history, as he was voted best goalkeeper of the tournament by FIFA fans, despite Unai Simón having received fewer goals in the competition.
But let's go in order. Unai Simón kept a clean sheet in seven of the eight matches played, conceded only one goal, the one against Belgium in the quarterfinals, and with these numbers he was the least beaten goalkeeper in the history of the World Cup, surpassed Walter Zenga's unbeaten record and was named best goalkeeper of the tournament at the end of the final... but he was not elected by FIFA fans as the best goalkeeper of the tournament. This incredible result was achieved by Vozinha, goalkeeper of the Cape Verde national team.
But I ask myself, what does a goalkeeper have to do to be recognized by people? It's really incomprehensible. How incomprehensible is the fact that 1) Laporte, Spain's central defender, and 2) Cubarsí, Argentina's goalkeeper, were not included in the list of candidates.
And here it is an inclusion or exclusion that makes much more noise, because FIFA itself is the body that designates the players who can participate in these votes. It is incomprehensible, for example, that Lisandro (Argentina) and Upamecano (France) were chosen by the fans at the end of the tournament as the best defenders.
And here we must ask ourselves another question: is it possible that fans of other nations, such as Argentina or France, voted for their players without taking into account the defensive performance of their team? It's a very strange thing, not to say incomprehensible.
The fact remains that Unai Simón, Laporte and Nico Williams return home with the great satisfaction of being world champions, and we know that trophies help players grow and motivate them for future seasons.
And speaking of future seasons, for Williams and Simón the season will begin on August 22 with the championship match between Athletic Club and Sevilla.
What happens now
With the World Cup highlighting the performances of goalkeepers like Vozinha, Unai Simón is expected to continue working to earn the recognition he deserves. The controversy could also influence future selections and voting, prompting FIFA to review the inclusion criteria. Furthermore, the presence of players such as Laporte and Nico Williams could be re-evaluated in view of future tournaments, given their contribution to the team.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened with Unai Simón at the 2026 World Cup?
Unai Simón kept a clean sheet in seven of the eight matches played, conceding just one goal and becoming the least beaten goalkeeper in the history of the World Cup.
Who was voted best goalkeeper of the tournament by FIFA fans?
The best goalkeeper of the tournament, chosen by FIFA fans, was Vozinha, goalkeeper of Green Guinea.
Why was the result regarding Vozinha and Unai Simón surprising?
It's surprising because, although Unai Simón had better statistics, such as fewer goals conceded, Vozinha was chosen by the fans as the best goalkeeper.
What changes have there been in the shortlist for the best defenders?
Laporte and Cubarsí were not included in the list of candidates, which caused surprise, given that Lisandro and Upamecano were chosen by the fans as the best defenders.
Who confirmed the voting results for goalkeepers and defenders?
FIFA is the body that designates the players who can participate in the voting, thus confirming the results.
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