Unai Simón still drives the Range Rover he bought eight years ago, despite winning the World Cup and Euro 2024, along with the Nations League. Most footballers with those honors might be eyeing the latest supercar. Simón has kept the same vehicle.
At 29, the Athletic keeper has a career most can only dream about. Spain’s run with him in goal has been historic: Nations League champion in 2023 and European champion in 2024. Then, after a summer that changed everything, he became a World Cup winner in 2026. He conceded just one goal in the tournament and went 650 minutes unbeaten, earning the Golden Glove.
Medals and headlines haven’t changed his habits. In a recent ABC interview, Simón spelled out his thinking: “I have one car and until the engine gives up, I’ll keep using it. It’s a Range Rover, I’ve had it for eight years. If I can keep it for another eight, even better. As long as it starts and gets me to training at Lezama, that’s enough.”
He’s never named the exact model, but he’s been spotted driving a Range Rover Velar. It’s a premium SUV, though not the kind of car that screams for attention. The Velar is 4.8 meters long, with clean lines and a simple design; its flush door handles made it stand out when it launched. It sits between the Evoque and the Range Rover Sport in the lineup.
Inside, the Velar ditched most buttons. Its Touch Pro Duo system has two 10-inch touchscreens stacked on the dash, controlling music and climate, with navigation on the system too. Depending on the trim, buyers could get surround cameras and adaptive cruise. Blind spot alerts and air suspension were also available. The features in Simón’s car are unknown, as is its engine.
When Simón bought his Range Rover, buyers had a choice of diesel or petrol engines, with four or six cylinders. The diesel D300 had a 3.0-liter V6 that produced 300 horsepower and 700 Nm of torque. The petrol P380 was a supercharged V6 with 380 horsepower and could hit 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds. The Velar was never cheap, but it was no Ferrari or Lamborghini. It was a statement: premium, but not showy.
Simón’s choice stands out even more now. Electric and hybrid SUVs are everywhere in Spain. As reported earlier, brands like BYD and Leapmotor are shaking up the market with new tech and sharp prices. The luxury SUV market is changing fast.
Still, Simón sticks with what works. He’s at the top of world football, yet keeps driving his eight-year-old Range Rover. Spain is gearing up for another Nations League run, and Simón isn’t changing his ways.
