Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Unai Simón is the star of the latest Athletic Talks podcast episode, recorded at San Mamés. The shot-stopper reflects on his recent accolade as the world's best goalkeeper for 2026 at the Ballon d'Or Gala in London, an award that comes at a key point in the season, with the team eighth in La Liga after taking 12 points from nine games, with three wins, three draws and three losses.
The club has released this exclusive content on its Athletic Play platform just 48 hours after Simón received the prize in the British capital. The 90-minute conversation is available for free there before its release on YouTube and Spotify next week.
Simón at the world's peak
This award caps a period of outstanding performance for the Spanish international, who is a cornerstone in Athletic's goal. The Basque side currently sits eighth in La Liga with 12 points from nine games, showing a patchy recent run of form with one win, two draws and two losses in their last five outings. Their next challenge is a high-voltage home clash against Real Sociedad, who are fifth, this Sunday 1 November, a fixture that always stands out on the calendar.
The podcast's recording at the San Mamés stadium itself shows the player's bond with the club. Simón discusses not only the individual honour but also his career path and his role within the Athletic Bilbao setup. The team approaches this match following a resounding 1-6 victory over Prat in the Copa del Rey on Thursday 29 October, with goals from M. Sannadi, R. Navarro, N. Serrano, T. Vizcay, C. Imga and S. Sanchez, a result aimed at boosting the squad's confidence. In the league, the red-and-white side comes from thrashing Getafe 4-0 last week, but also from a 3-1 defeat to Levante and two goalless draws against Valencia and Rayo Vallecano. In the season's total tally, the team has scored 12 goals and conceded 9, leaving them 15 points behind the leaders, Barcelona.
The Athletic Talks episode featuring Unai Simón is now available to watch.
The report in full is at google.com
