Belgium finally ends Unai Simón’s 650-minute World Cup shutout streak in quarterfinals

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Unai Simón’s impenetrable wall finally crumbled at the World Cup.

The Spain goalkeeper had kept a clean sheet for a record 650 minutes — the tournament's longest scoreless streak — before Belgium ended it in the quarterfinals on Friday.

Charles De Ketelaere got in front of Pau Cubarsi to head in Timothy Castagne's cross in the 41st minute, making the score 1-1.

Belgium became the first team to score against La Roja at this year's World Cup, snapping their tournament record of six consecutive clean sheets.

Spain’s streak began with a 0-0 draw in the round of 16 at the last tournament in 2022, when Morocco advanced after a penalty shootout. There was also a surprising scoreless draw against Cape Verde to open group play this year, followed by four consecutive shutout victories to advance to the quarterfinals.

Simón broke the previous record of 517 consecutive scoreless minutes during a 3-0 win over Austria to open the knockout round. Italy goalkeeper Walter Zenga set the previous mark in 1990 with five consecutive clean sheets at his home World Cup.

Simón’s shutout streak started in 2022 in Qatar when he entered a 2-1 loss to Japan in group play.

The 29-year-old goalkeeper faced only two shots in the first half Friday.

See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here

Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon (23) reaches for the ball to make a save during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between Spain and Belgium in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Friday, July 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Belgium's Charles De Ketelaere (17) scores their opening goal past Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon (23) during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between Spain and Belgium in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Friday, July 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Belgium's Charles De Ketelaere (17) scores their opening goal past Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon (23) during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between Spain and Belgium in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Friday, July 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani will miss next week's All-Star Game in Philadelphia because of continued irritation in his left knee.

The Dodgers added that Ohtani would not make his scheduled start on the mound against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night, but would continue his role as the team's designated hitter throughout the weekend.

The team says that after the series against the D-backs ends on Sunday, Ohtani will have some “interventions” done on his knee to get his ready for the second half of the season, which will cause him to miss the All-Star Game.

The four-time Most Valuable Player has once again been one of the best players in the big leagues this season and stands alone as the game's premier two-way player.

Ohtani is batting .290 with 20 homers and 56 RBIs and is 8-2 on the mound with a 1.79 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 85 2/3 innings.

Ohtani's absence will be a blow for baseball's midsummer showcase at Citizens Bank Park. The Japanese star — who turned 32 years old earlier this week — is among the game's most popular players and led MLB in jersey sales last year.

He hit his 300th career homer on Tuesday night, a leadoff shot against Colorado Rockies pitcher Michael Lorenzen that made him the first Japanese-born player in the majors to reach the milestone.

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Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani sits in the dugout during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Wednesday, July 8, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani hits as he flies out during the first inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Wednesday, July 8, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani fakes a pitch after the Dodgers defeated the against the Colorado Rockies in a baseball game Wednesday, July 8, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)