Thibaut Courtois remains Belgium’s rock at the World Cup | OneFootball

At 34, Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is steadying Belgium with a World Cup showing he says could be his last. According to L'Équipe, the Red Devils have their true Courtois back after he recovered from a right quadriceps injury.

He returned against Ukraine, a 1-3 loss on 23 March 2025, after nearly two years out amid disagreements with then coach Domenico Tedesco. In Croatia in early June, a 2-0 win, he impressed again, then saved twice in the 1-1 with Egypt on 15 June and three more in the 0-0 with Iran.

Head coach Rudi Garcia praised Courtois’s stops and his reaction as if he had scored. He called him forthright, wished he had had him more in qualifying, and said recent injuries mean he must be careful not to lose one or two per cent. He felt that with the golden generation available, Courtois often saved Belgium.

Courtois has twice fronted the media in the United States, speaking candidly about recovery needs and family time. With Senne Lammens, 23, emerging at Manchester United, competition is renewed, yet Courtois remains outspoken and asks only for recognition of his work and level.

At this finals he became Belgium’s most capped World Cup player, surpassing Enzo Scifo’s 17. He has eight clean sheets, two shy of the record shared by Fabien Barthez and Peter Shilton at 10. He is due to play his 19th World Cup match against Senegal on Wednesday at 22:00.

Source: L'Équipe