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Belgium shot-stopper Thibaut Courtois was visibly emotional as he limped out of the Red Devils' quarterfinal clash against Spain with a thigh problem, sending shockwaves through Real Madrid ahead of the 2026–27 campaign.
The 34-year-old featured in every minute of the 2026 World Cup for Belgium until he picked up the issue just before the second-half water break against La Roja. Courtois had dived to deny a threatening effort from Mikel Oyarzabal before signaling to the medical team shortly after.
He attempted to play through the pain, but was ultimately substituted in the 71st minute for Manchester United's Senne Lammens. Courtois departed in tears, left to watch helplessly from the sideline as his stand-in fumbled a save that Mikel Merino converted to book Spain's place in the semifinals.
The fact that Courtois was unable to carry on, along with his emotional exit, sent Real Madrid supporters into a panic—though the Belgian's post-match comments offer some reassurance that the injury may not be as severe as it appeared.
Courtois Reveals the Extent of His Injury
After Belgium's 2–1 defeat, Courtois told reporters, "I felt significant pain in my quadriceps. But I had no issue staying in goal, only when it came to long kicks."
"Ultimately the manager chose to take me off. That's fine because the team always comes first."
Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia is likely second-guessing that call after watching Lammens gift Spain the victory, though the manager defended the substitution in his post-match press conference.
"You need to be fully focused and capable of performing in matches like this," he said. "From the start of the World Cup, I didn't want players on the field who weren't 100%, and that was the case with Courtois."
"He was outstanding throughout the tournament, but we didn't want to risk making the injury worse, which is why we made the change."
Courtois made four saves before being forced off, keeping Lamine Yamal and company largely at bay aside from Fabián Ruiz's rebound strike in the 30th minute. The goalkeeper conceded just six goals across 551 minutes at the tournament this summer, but uncertainty now surrounds his future, particularly given his injury-prone track record.
Courtois's Injury History Leaves Real Madrid Fearing the Worst
Despite Courtois's post-game explanation, Real Madrid will remain on edge regarding his condition until he undergoes medical assessments. The former Chelsea keeper has a well-documented injury history, particularly in recent campaigns, that has seen him sidelined for prolonged periods.
Courtois is also not always the most transparent about his physical state. When he was withdrawn at halftime against Manchester City in the Champions League last season, he appeared upbeat and the substitution seemed purely precautionary.
However, scans later revealed a muscle injury in his right quadriceps—apparently similar to what he suffered against Spain—and he went on to miss close to seven weeks of action. During that absence, Real Madrid were eliminated from the Champions League and dropped out of the La Liga title race.
Should Courtois face another extended spell on the treatment table, he could miss the opening of the 2026–27 season, leaving José Mourinho to rely on backup goalkeeper Andriy Lunin. The Ukrainian struggled when called upon last season, recording just one clean sheet in 12 outings.
The loss of Courtois would be a major blow for a Real Madrid side eager to hit the ground running next season after two trophy-less years. The goalkeeper is frequently the standout performer for Los Blancos, and his absence would leave a glaring void in what is already a fragile squad under Mourinho.