Iker Casillas does not shy away when it comes to assessing his successors. The legendary goalkeeper of Real Madrid and the Spanish national team has addressed the debate over Spain's goalkeeping position at the 2026 World Cup with a verdict steeped in experience: Unai Simón is simply the most prepared at this moment. And he knows what he is talking about.

The record that changed hands

The Athletic Club goalkeeper has dethroned Casillas in one of the most valuable records in elite football: the shutout streak in World Cups. Unai not only surpassed the minutes without conceding of the former Spain captain, but reached a historic mark on a world scale, approaching 517 minutes of a closed goal. A milestone that in any other context would be controversial, but which Casillas justifies naturally.

According to diezminutos.es, in statements recorded at La Liga's House of Football in Madrid and also on DAZN, the former goalkeeper has made his position crystal clear: Spain's present in goal rests with Simón, not because he is the only available talent, but because he carries the sufficient weight of continuity and accumulated trust.

Three luxury competitors, but with nuance

Casillas does not close the door on David Raya or Joan García. In fact, he praises them generously. The young Barcelona goalkeeper's performance in a "quite good" season receives his recognition, and he specially values his youth, personality and vitality in a position that has historically been one of the most demanding in Spanish football.

But here comes the nuance that defines the former Madrid goalkeeper's reflection:

• Unai Simón: Accumulated experience, faith from selectors, continuity in the project.
• Joan García: Youth, personality, capacity for future growth.
• David Raya: Track record of his performance in the Premier League.

"They have more experience and seniority when it comes to occupying that position," Casillas concludes about Simón, emphasizing that this is not a question of raw talent, but of competitive maturity in the context of a national team.

Competition raises the bar

Where Casillas puts the emphasis in his analysis is on collective wealth. Spain does not have a goalkeeping problem; it has a luxury. "All three are very different, but they are three natural competitors," he states. And that diversity of profiles is not a conflict: it is an advantage.

"When you have three guys so good and so capable, in the end it is not just the manager, but your teammates are also very relaxed," he explains. In a tournament like a World Cup, that peace of mind is worth its weight in gold. Matches are decided by details, by unexpected extra time, by penalty shootouts under pressure. Knowing that behind the goal there are elite options is an invaluable psychological cushion.

Unai Simón, for now, continues between the sticks. Decisive in the tournament, he has allowed Spain to defeat France in the semi-finals with goals from Mikel Oyarzabal (from a penalty) and Pedro Porro, paving the way to the final to be played this Sunday in New York, in pursuit of a second world star.

The verdict of a legend

That Casillas speaks this way—recognizing merit in his successor without ambiguity—says much about where Spain stands at this moment. There is no drama in the goalkeeping position; there is solidity. Unai Simón is being consistent, as the former goalkeeper underlines, "and from there he does not step back." That is all fans need to know: at the 2026 World Cup, Spain's goalkeeping is in good hands.