Overview
- Thibaut Courtois suffered a muscular problem in his thigh during Belgium’s World Cup quarter-final and was substituted, with his replacement Senne Lammens spilling the ball for Spain’s 88th-minute winner.
- Medical commentary and early reports put the recovery window at roughly four to eight weeks but official tests and a final diagnosis are still pending.
- Courtois told reporters he wants a quieter year for international duty and has asked Belgium to let him skip short-term call-ups while staying available for key qualifiers if that is agreed.
- Real Madrid are expected to rely on deputy Andriy Lunin while Courtois recovers, a shift that could affect preseason and early La Liga matches if the club confirms the reported absence.
- The injury adds to a pattern of serious problems for the 34-year-old, including an ACL tear in 2023 and a meniscus issue in 2024, raising questions about workload management and long-term availability.