Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya, a three-time Premier League Golden Glove winner, has not played a single minute for Spain at the 2026 World Cup, with Unai Simon retaining the starting role despite Raya's outstanding club form. Spain's head coach Luis de la Fuente has consistently chosen Simon, citing his international experience and clutch performances, a decision that has been vindicated as Spain reached the final with the tournament's stingiest defence.
Selection headache: Club form vs international trust
Raya, 30, was instrumental in Arsenal's first Premier League title since 2004 last season, recording 19 clean sheets and winning his third consecutive Golden Glove. He conceded only one more goal than Arsenal's Invincibles side and excelled in playing out from the back. In contrast, Simon endured a lacklustre campaign with Athletic Bilbao, who conceded 58 league goals—their highest since 2012/13—and finished 12th.
Despite these disparities, De la Fuente opted for Simon, who had started Spain's previous four tournaments and led them to Euro 2024 glory. Speaking ahead of the tournament, De la Fuente said: "I don't believe in pressure. I feel zero pressure. The decision we make regarding the goalkeeper will be based on an assessment of each situation to determine which goalkeeper best suits our needs. All three have fantastic qualities. We have three of the best goalkeepers in the world, and whoever plays will offer us complete confidence."
Statistical comparison: Simon's World Cup heroics
Over the league season, Simon faced more shots and made 40 more saves than Raya, preventing 2.17 goals compared to Raya's 0.66, highlighting his importance to a weaker Bilbao side. Raya, however, registered 13 more clean sheets and was more dominant on crosses. At the World Cup, Simon has been exceptional: he posted a 90% save percentage and conceded 0.71 fewer goals than expected, with Spain only breached once—by Belgium's Charles De Ketelaere—before Simon set a record of over 650 minutes without conceding. His vital clearances to deny Kylian Mbappe in the semi-finals underscored his reliability.
The final say: Simon's form justifies the snub
Raya's lack of minutes may be a blessing for Arsenal as several key players face fatigue, but he did all he could to stake a claim. However, Simon's immense performances, aided by a defensive partnership of Pau Cubarsi and Aymeric Laporte, have Spain on the brink of replicating their 2010 World Cup triumph, where they conceded only once. De la Fuente's decision to prioritise international experience over club form has paid dividends, with Simon delivering in critical moments throughout the tournament.
