Thibaut Courtois
On the 17th of April 2009, a sixteen-year-old boy named Thibaut Courtois stepped onto the pitch at the Guldensporenstadion. He faced Gent in a Belgian Pro League match that would mark his first senior appearance for Racing Genk. The date was specific and the age was precise: he was exactly sixteen years and three hundred forty-one days old when he made his debut. This moment transformed him from a youth prospect into Belgium's youngest senior goalkeeper since Robert Hustin in 1905.
Courtois had joined Racing Genk in 1999 at the age of seven as a left back before being converted to a goalkeeper during an injury crisis. By the 2010, 11 season, he became the club's first-choice keeper after Laszlo Koteles' registration issues arose. He kept fourteen clean sheets over forty league matches while conceding only thirty-two goals. His performance earned him both Goalkeeper of the Year and Genk's Player of the Year awards. That same season, Genk won the Belgian Pro League title with Courtois as their key figure.
In July 2011, Courtois signed a five-year deal with Chelsea for nine million euros but spent the next three seasons on loan at Atlético Madrid. His debut for Atlético came on the 25th of August 2011 during a four-nil Europa League victory over Vitória de Guimarães. Three days later, he kept a clean sheet against Osasuna at the Vicente Calderón Stadium. He quickly established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper ahead of Sergio Asenjo.
During his time in Spain, Courtois set a new club record of eight hundred twenty minutes without conceding a goal at the Estadio Vicente Calderón. This streak ended when Real Sociedad scored a one-nil winner. He helped Atlético reach the 2013 Copa del Rey Final where they defeated Real Madrid two-one. The match marked the first time Atlético had beaten their city rivals in fourteen years. He also won the Ricardo Zamora Trophy twice while playing there. In May 2014, Atlético lost the Champions League final to Real Madrid four-one after extra time despite his efforts.
Courtois returned to Chelsea in June 2014 under manager José Mourinho wearing the number thirteen shirt. He started the Premier League opener against Burnley on the 18th of August 2014. Although he conceded the first goal to Scott Arfield, Chelsea won three-one. He kept his first Premier League clean sheet in his second game during a two-zero home win over Leicester City. On the 5th of October 2014, he suffered a head injury from a collision with Alexis Sánchez but was released from hospital that night.
He won his first trophy with Chelsea on the 1st of March 2015 as they defeated Tottenham Hotspur two-zero in the League Cup final. Courtois later earned the Premier League Golden Glove award for the 2016, 17 season after keeping sixteen clean sheets. That season saw him play all six games without conceding a single goal between October and November. Despite suffering an ankle injury in April 2017 which ruled him out against Manchester United, he helped secure the title by keeping three consecutive clean sheets ending with a one-nil away win over West Bromwich Albion.
On the 8th of August 2018, Real Madrid announced they had signed Courtois for thirty-five million pounds. He made his debut for the club on the 1st of September 2018 in a four-win over Leganés. By July 2020, he kept seventeen clean sheets in a single La Liga season becoming the first Real Madrid goalkeeper to do so since Francisco Buyo in 1994, 95. He also won the Zamora Trophy for the third time after conceding just twenty goals in thirty-four matches.
Courtois faced significant physical challenges during his tenure at Real Madrid. On the 10th of August 2023, he was diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee requiring surgery. He returned to action on the 4th of May 2024 playing full-time in a three-zero home win against Cádiz. Later that year on the 1st of June, he started in the Champions League final producing decisive saves in a two-zero victory over Borussia Dortmund. Despite these setbacks, he helped Real Madrid win multiple titles including the 2021, 22 and 2023, 24 UEFA Champions League.
Courtois made his senior international debut for Belgium in October 2011 during a friendly draw against France at the Stade de France. He became the youngest goalkeeper to play for the Belgian national team since Robert Hustin in 1905. By December 2022, he played his one-hundredth match for Belgium in a goalless draw against Croatia becoming the first Belgian goalkeeper to achieve this feat. He appeared in five major tournaments throughout his career spanning from 2014 to 2024.
At the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Courtois won the Golden Glove as the best goalkeeper after making twenty-seven saves across seven games. He posted clean sheets against Panama and England while allowing only one goal in Belgium's semi-final loss to France. His performance helped Belgium finish third achieving their highest-ever result at the competition. However, he was not selected for the Euro 2024 tournament due to an underlying conflict with manager Domenico Tedesco. He announced on the 22nd of August 2024 that he would not return to the national team for the time being before eventually returning under new manager Rudi Garcia.
Courtois is described by experts as a complete goalkeeper possessing excellent positional sense and composure. His height and reach allow him to excel in the air while commanding his penalty area effectively. During the 2016, 17 season, he credited goalkeeping coach Gianluca Spinelli for improving his footwork and diving technique. This training enabled him to be more explosive and get to ground quickly when facing opponents.
He distinguishes himself through agility and quick reflexes despite his imposing physique. Courtois functions occasionally as a sweeper-keeper rushing out of goal to face opponents one-on-one. He also excels in distributing the ball to teammates using long throws. In 2025, Amanda Langell of Sports Illustrated placed him at number thirteen in her list of the fifteen greatest goalkeepers of all time. His ability to communicate well with defenders remains a consistent strength throughout his career.
Courtois speaks four languages including French Dutch Spanish and English. His older sister Valérie Courtois plays volleyball for Stade Français Paris Saint Cloud and Belgium. Both parents were volleyball players before he decided to focus on football at age twelve. On the 26th of May 2015, his girlfriend Marta Domínguez gave birth to their daughter. They ended their relationship in April 2017 while she was pregnant with their son who was born a month later.
In July 2021, he began a relationship with Israeli model Mishel Gerzig. They adopted a dog together a month later and got engaged in June 2022 before marrying a year later. Outside football, Courtois maintains an interest in Formula One racing attending events like the Monaco and Spanish Grand Prix. In May 2023, he created his own Formula Four team called TC Racing based south of Madrid. The team received official approval to compete in the Spanish F4 championship in November 2023 making its debut in May 2024.
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Common questions
When did Thibaut Courtois make his senior debut for Racing Genk?
Thibaut Courtois made his senior debut on the 17th of April 2009 at the Guldensporenstadion during a match against Gent. He was exactly sixteen years and three hundred forty-one days old when he stepped onto the pitch to become Belgium's youngest senior goalkeeper since Robert Hustin in 1905.
What major trophies has Thibaut Courtois won with Real Madrid?
Thibaut Courtois helped Real Madrid win multiple titles including the 2021, 22 and 2023, 24 UEFA Champions League. He also secured victories in domestic competitions such as the La Liga title where he kept seventeen clean sheets in a single season by July 2020.
How many times has Thibaut Courtois won the Zamora Trophy?
Thibaut Courtois has won the Ricardo Zamora Trophy three times throughout his career while playing for Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid. He earned the award twice during his time in Spain and won it again after conceding just twenty goals in thirty-four matches during the 2018, 19 season.
When did Thibaut Courtois return from his ACL injury in 2023?
Thibaut Courtois returned to action on the 4th of May 2024 playing full-time in a three-zero home win against Cádiz following surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament diagnosed on the 10th of August 2023. He subsequently started in the Champions League final on the 1st of June producing decisive saves in a two-zero victory over Borussia Dortmund.
Why was Thibaut Courtois not selected for Euro 2024?
Thibaut Courtois was not selected for the Euro 2024 tournament due to an underlying conflict with manager Domenico Tedesco. He announced on the 22nd of August 2024 that he would not return to the national team for the time being before eventually returning under new manager Rudi Garcia.