Ballon d’Or debate: Did David Raya deserve more recognition after Arsenal’s historic season?

The Ballon d’Or award for the world’s best goalkeeper went to Unai Simon, but David Raya’s outstanding campaign with Arsenal has raised questions over whether the voting fully reflected the two goalkeepers’ club performances.

Simon, of Athletic Bilbao, beat Raya and eight other nominees at Monday’s ceremony in London. The shortlist also included Yassine Bounou, Thibaut Courtois, Joan Garcia, Gregor Kobel, Emiliano Martinez, Edouard Mendy, Matvey Safonov and Vozinha.

Raya, 31, was one of the main reasons Arsenal won the Premier League for the first time in 22 years. He played 37 league matches, kept 19 clean sheets – the highest total among goalkeepers in the competition – and conceded 26 goals, fewer than one per game.

His influence extended into Europe, where he helped Arsenal reach the Champions League final before they lost to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties. Raya appeared in 14 Champions League games, recording nine clean sheets and conceding only five goals, an average of 0.35 per match.

Although he did not play in either the FA Cup or League Cup, Raya finished the season with 51 appearances in all competitions. He kept 28 clean sheets and conceded 31 goals, giving him an overall average of 0.60 goals per game.

Simon’s club figures were less impressive by comparison. The 29-year-old played 37 La Liga matches for Athletic Bilbao, keeping six clean sheets and conceding 54 goals, or 1.4 per game. In the Champions League, he made eight appearances, kept two clean sheets and allowed 14 goals, almost two per match.

He also conceded five goals in a single Spanish Super Cup match against Barcelona. Across the season, Simon played 46 games for Athletic Bilbao, conceded 73 goals and posted an average of 1.5 goals per match.

However, the figures do not provide the whole explanation. The level of pressure faced by each goalkeeper also needs to be considered. Arsenal generally dominate possession in the Premier League and Champions League, limiting the number of chances Raya faces, while Athletic Bilbao can endure longer periods of pressure against some opponents.

SofaScore statistics show that Raya made 60 saves in the league and stopped 70% of the shots he faced. In the Champions League, he made 36 saves with an 88% success rate.

Simon faced more attempts in La Liga, making 100 saves, but his save percentage was 65%. In the Champions League, he made 24 saves and stopped 63% of shots. The number and quality of chances, as well as the difference in appearances, mean no single statistic can settle the debate.

The decisive factor may have been international football. Simon played all eight of Spain’s matches at the 2026 World Cup and helped them win the tournament for the second time in their history, while Raya remained on the bench after a decision by manager Luis de la Fuente.

Simon kept seven clean sheets in eight matches, conceded just one goal, made 10 saves and won the World Cup Golden Glove. He also set the longest scoreless run in World Cup history by going 650 consecutive minutes without conceding.

That sequence stretched from his final two matches at the 2022 tournament through Spain’s first six and a half games at the 2026 World Cup, ending when Belgium scored in the quarter-final.

Raya’s club numbers were stronger in several key areas, particularly goals conceded and clean sheets. Simon, though, had a World Cup triumph, the Golden Glove and a historic record on his side – achievements that may have persuaded the journalists who voted for him. Whether that amounts to Raya being overlooked cannot be answered by statistics alone.