Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón has climbed into joint third place on FIFA’s all-time list of goalkeepers with the most clean sheets at the FIFA World Cup following Spain’s run to the 2026 final.
According to FIFA’s updated rankings after the semi-finals on Wednesday, Simón has kept eight clean sheets in 11 World Cup appearances, matching the records of Jan Jongbloed, Emerson Leão, Sepp Maier, Taffarel, Thibaut Courtois and Hugo Lloris.
FIFA’s all-time rankings continue to be led jointly by France’s Fabien Barthez and England’s Peter Shilton, who each recorded 10 clean sheets in 17 World Cup appearances.
Barthez achieved five shutouts during France’s triumphant 1998 campaign, one in 2002 and four in 2006, while Shilton registered four clean sheets in 1982, three in 1986 and three more in 1990.
Simón’s tally has been boosted by Spain’s 2026 campaign, during which he has kept six clean sheets in seven matches, having previously recorded two at the 2022 World Cup.
Behind the joint leaders, Brazil’s Alisson, Gilmar, Spain’s Iker Casillas, Uruguay’s Fernando Muslera and Germany’s Manuel Neuer are tied for 10th place with seven clean sheets each.
FIFA’s updated rankings were published after Spain’s 2-0 victory over France in the 2026 World Cup semi-final, with Simón conceding only four goals across his 11 World Cup appearances for a goals-conceded average of 0.36 per game, the best among the goalkeepers in the top tier of the rankings.
Here are the rankings:
FIFA World Cup goalkeepers with the most clean sheets (Updated after July 15, 2026)
1. Fabien Barthez (France) – 10 clean sheets (17 appearances)
2. Peter Shilton (England) – 10 clean sheets (17 appearances)
3. Unai Simón (Spain) – 8 clean sheets (11 appearances)
4. Jan Jongbloed (Netherlands) – 8 clean sheets (12 appearances)
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5. Emerson Leão (Brazil) – 8 clean sheets (14 appearances)
6. Sepp Maier (West Germany) – 8 clean sheets (18 appearances)
7. Taffarel (Brazil) – 8 clean sheets (18 appearances)
8. Thibaut Courtois (Belgium) – 8 clean sheets (21 appearances)
9. Hugo Lloris (France) – 8 clean sheets (20 appearances)
10. Alisson (Brazil) – 7 clean sheets (14 appearances)
11. Gilmar (Brazil) – 7 clean sheets (14 appearances)
12. Iker Casillas (Spain) – 7 clean sheets (17 appearances)
13. Fernando Muslera (Uruguay) – 7 clean sheets (19 appearances)
14. Manuel Neuer (Germany) – 7 clean sheets (23 appearances)
Note:
FIFA lists players with the same number of clean sheets as joint positions (e.g. Barthez and Shilton are both joint first, while Simón through Lloris are all joint third, and Alisson through Neuer are joint 10th).
Tosin Oyediran is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over eight years of professional experience in reporting and storytelling. He is known for conducting incisive interviews and producing compelling human-angle stories that bring clarity and depth to the news. Tosin covers a broad range of beats including politics, health, advocacy, sports, and entertainment, with a strong focus on people-centred reporting. His work reflects firsthand newsroom experience, editorial insight, and a commitment to accurate, engaging, and trustworthy journalism.
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Source: The Punch
