Unai Simon: Cristiano is not the same, but I’m proud of this achievement

Unai Simon, Spain's goalkeeper, stated that facing Portugal in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup will be extremely challenging, emphasizing that "La Roja" is gradually returning to the level they showcased in the European Championship.

In a press conference, Simon said: "We had a nearly perfect European Championship, and we feel we are getting closer to that level again. The World Cup is progressing positively for us, and we are improving every day. Why not be better than we were?"

He added: "We need to focus on our style of play while respecting Portugal, as they previously defeated us in the Nations League final. If we exit the tournament, it should be because the opponent was better, not because we didn't show our true level."

Regarding his record of not conceding a goal for 519 minutes in the World Cup, he said: "I am honored by this achievement, but it reflects the team's work more than my personal effort. We have only faced three shots on target, which shows the strength of our defensive system."

Simon spoke about the praise he received from Spanish goalkeeping legend José Ángel Iribar, saying: "Receiving his message is a great honor. For us at Athletic Bilbao, he is number one, and what he said makes me very proud."

He also emphasized that his teammates deserve recognition, adding: "I am convinced that we have the best trio of goalkeepers in the World Cup, and if David Raya or Juan García had played, they would have achieved this record too."

On Lamine Yamal, he clarified: "The image people see is different from what we see inside the national team. Lamine helps a lot with defensive duties, and no one needs to convince him to track back or defend; he wants to achieve something big in this tournament."

He discussed the threat posed by Cristiano Ronaldo, stating: "Ronaldo is not the same as he was six or seven years ago, but he is still lethal in the box. We need to keep him as far away from our goal as possible because he knows how to exploit half-chances."

Simon concluded his remarks by saying: "Portugal hasn't changed much in terms of style, and we expect a match similar to the Nations League final. If we correct the mistakes from that encounter, we will have a great chance to win and advance."