Thibaut Courtois facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Thibaut Courtois

Courtois playing for Belgium at the 2022 FIFA World Cup
Personal information
Full name	Thibaut Nicolas Marc Courtois
Date of birth	(1992-05-11) 11 May 1992 (age 33)
Place of birth	Bree, Belgium
Height	2.00 m (6 ft 7 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Real Madrid
Number	1
Youth career
1997–1999	Bilzen V.V.
1999–2009	Genk
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2009–2011	Genk	41	(0)
2011–2018	Chelsea	126	(0)
2011–2014	→ Atlético Madrid (loan)	111	(0)
2018–	Real Madrid	200	(0)
International career‡
2009–2010	Belgium U18	4	(0)
2011–	Belgium	103	(0)
Medal record Men's football Representing  Belgium FIFA World Cup Third 2018
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:27, 14 May 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:08, 20 March 2025 (UTC)

Thibaut Nicolas Marc Courtois (born on May 11, 1992) is a professional football player from Belgium. He plays as a goalkeeper for the La Liga club Real Madrid and the Belgium national team. Many people think he is one of the best goalkeepers ever. He is known for his quick reflexes, amazing saves, and how well he controls his penalty area.

Courtois started his career with Genk in 2009 when he was 16. He quickly became their main goalkeeper and helped them win the Belgian Pro League title. In 2011, Courtois joined Chelsea but was immediately loaned to Atlético Madrid. While at Atlético, he won a La Liga title, the Copa del Rey, and the Europa League. He also played in the UEFA Champions League final.

He returned to Chelsea in 2014 and helped them win two Premier League titles and the EFL Cup. In 2018, Courtois moved to Real Madrid. There, he has won three La Liga titles and two UEFA Champions League titles.

Courtois first played for the Belgium national team in 2011 when he was 19. He became their youngest senior goalkeeper ever. He has played over 100 games for Belgium and has been in five major tournaments. At the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Courtois won the Golden Glove award for being the best goalkeeper. He helped Belgium finish third, which was their best World Cup result ever.

Courtois has won several individual awards, including the Ricardo Zamora Trophy three times and the Premier League Golden Glove once.

Club Career Highlights

Starting Out at Genk

Courtois with Genk during the 2010–11 season

Thibaut Courtois was born in Bree, Belgium. His father was from Wallonia and his mother was from Flanders. He started playing football at a local club called Bilzen V.V. He first played as a left back. In 1999, when he was seven, he joined Racing Genk. It was there that he became a goalkeeper.

Courtois moved up through the youth teams at Genk. When he was 16, he made his first team debut on April 17, 2009. This happened because another goalkeeper was injured. He became Genk's main goalkeeper for the 2010–11 season.

He was very important in helping Genk win the Belgian Pro League title that season. He won the Goalkeeper of the Year award and Genk's Player of the Year award. He only let in 32 goals in 40 league games and kept 14 clean sheets (games where the other team didn't score).

Time at Atlético Madrid

In July 2011, Courtois joined the English club Chelsea. He signed a five-year deal. Just a few weeks later, Chelsea sent him on loan to Atlético Madrid for a season.

First Season: 2011–12

Courtois played his first game for Atlético on August 25, 2011, in a 4–0 win in the UEFA Europa League. Three days later, he kept a clean sheet in his first La Liga game, which was a 0–0 draw. Courtois quickly became Atlético's main goalkeeper. He kept four clean sheets in his first six La Liga games.

On November 26, 2011, Courtois received his first red card in a game against Real Madrid. Atlético lost that game 4–1. Atlético reached the 2012 UEFA Europa League final, and Courtois kept a clean sheet as they won 3–0.

Second Season: 2012–13

Courtois playing for Atlético Madrid in 2013

Courtois' loan to Atlético was extended for the 2012–13 season. His first game back was against his parent club, Chelsea, in the 2012 UEFA Super Cup. Atlético won that game 4–1. Later that season, Courtois set a new Atlético Madrid record. He went 820 minutes without letting in a goal at their home stadium.

Atlético reached the 2013 Copa del Rey Final. Courtois was named the best player in the game as Atlético won 2–1 against Real Madrid. This was the first time Atlético had beaten their city rivals in 14 years.

Third Season: 2013–14

Courtois' loan to Atlético was extended for another year for the 2013–14 season.

Atlético was set to play Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final. There was a rule in Courtois' contract that said Atlético would have to pay Chelsea a lot of money if he played against them. However, UEFA (the European football governing body) said this rule was not allowed. So, Atlético was free to play Courtois without paying any extra money.

Courtois let in the fewest goals in many games during the 2013–14 season. He won the Ricardo Zamora Trophy for this. He also played a big part in Atlético winning the La Liga title, their first since 1996. Atlético, however, lost the UEFA Champions League final 4–1 to Real Madrid after extra time.

Playing for Chelsea

First Season Back: 2014–15

Courtois playing for Chelsea in 2014

In June 2014, Chelsea's manager, José Mourinho, said that Courtois would return to Chelsea for the new season. He was given the number 13 shirt. On August 18, Mourinho announced that Courtois would be the starting goalkeeper for the first Premier League game. Chelsea won that game 3–1. Courtois kept his first Premier League clean sheet in his second game, making important saves in a 2–0 win.

On September 11, 2014, Courtois signed a new five-year contract with Chelsea. He said he was "really nice to have signed this new contract."

On October 5, Courtois got a head injury during a game against Arsenal. He had to leave the game and was taken to the hospital. He was treated for a small cut and was released that night.

He won his first trophy with Chelsea on March 1, 2015. Chelsea beat Tottenham Hotspur 2–0 in the League Cup final. Chelsea also won the league title that season.

Second Season: 2015–16

Courtois playing for Chelsea in 2015

Courtois started the season by playing in the 2015 FA Community Shield, which Chelsea lost 1–0. Six days later, in the first Premier League game, he received a red card for a foul. He had surgery on a leg injury on September 11 and was expected to miss three months of games.

On April 16, he was sent off again in a home game against Manchester City. He became the sixth Premier League goalkeeper to be sent off twice in the same season.

Third Season: 2016–17

On August 17, 2016, Courtois said he would stay at Chelsea for many years. Ten days later, he kept his first clean sheet of the season in a 3–0 win. From October 1 to November 20, Chelsea had six games without letting in a single goal, with Courtois playing in all of them.

In April 2017, Courtois missed a match against Manchester United due to an ankle injury. Chelsea lost that game 0–2. On May 12, 2017, Courtois kept his third clean sheet in a row in a 1–0 win. This win secured the league title for Chelsea. Courtois also played in the FA Cup final, which Chelsea lost 2–1 to Arsenal.

Courtois kept 16 clean sheets in the Premier League and won the Premier League Golden Glove award.

Moving to Real Madrid

First Years: 2018–2020

Courtois playing for Real Madrid in 2019

After the 2017–18 season, Courtois said he wanted to live closer to his children. This started rumors about him moving to Real Madrid. After playing very well at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, where he won the Golden Glove, Courtois wanted to leave Chelsea. Chelsea said they would not let him go unless they found a replacement. Courtois did not show up for training after the summer break to try and force his move.

On August 8, 2018, Real Madrid announced they had signed Courtois on a six-year contract. Chelsea confirmed the transfer the next day. He played his first game for Madrid on September 1, 2018, in a 4–1 win.

On January 12, 2020, Real Madrid beat Courtois' former club, Atlético Madrid, in a penalty shootout to win the Supercopa de España title. Courtois saved a penalty in the shootout, helping Real win their 11th Spanish Super Cup.

On July 5, 2020, Courtois kept his 17th clean sheet of the 2019–20 La Liga season. This made him the first Real Madrid goalkeeper to do so in a single season since 1994–95. He was the main goalkeeper as Real Madrid won the La Liga title. He won the Zamora Trophy for the third time, letting in only 20 goals in 34 matches.

Recent Seasons: 2021–Present

On August 16, 2021, he signed a new four-year contract with Real Madrid, lasting until 2026. On February 6, 2022, he reached his 100th win with Real Madrid in 161 games. Courtois won his second Spanish league title with Real Madrid in the 2021–22 La Liga season.

On May 28, 2022, Courtois was named the best player in the 2022 UEFA Champions League final. He made nine saves, which helped Real Madrid beat Liverpool 1–0. His nine saves were a record in the final since records began in 2003–04. His 59 saves during that Champions League season also set a new record.

On August 10, 2023, Real Madrid announced that Courtois had a torn ligament in his left knee. He had surgery and was out for several months.

On March 19, 2024, Courtois got injured again during training. He tore a meniscus in his right knee. This meant he would miss most of the 2023–24 season. Two months later, on May 4, he played his first game of the season in a 3–0 win. On June 1, he started in the 2024 UEFA Champions League final, making important saves in a 2–0 victory.

On September 29, 2024, during a game against Atlético Madrid, Atlético fans threw objects at Courtois. The game was stopped for about 15–20 minutes.

International Career with Belgium

Early Days and First World Cup

Courtois was first called up to the Belgium squad in October 2011. He made his debut the next month in a 0–0 friendly draw against France. This made him the youngest goalkeeper to play for the Belgian national team.

Courtois played every minute of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign. Belgium qualified for their first major tournament since 2002. He kept six clean sheets in ten games during these qualifiers.

On May 13, 2014, Courtois was named in the squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He played all five games for Belgium. He kept clean sheets in wins against Russia and South Korea. Belgium reached the quarter-finals, where they lost to Argentina.

Euro 2016 and 2018 World Cup Success

Courtois played every minute of Belgium's first eight games in their UEFA Euro 2016 qualification campaign. This helped them qualify for the tournament for the first time in 16 years.

Belgium reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2016, but they lost to Wales. Courtois later suggested that the coach was partly to blame for the loss. He called it the "biggest disappointment" of his career.

Courtois (in black) with Belgium at the 2018 FIFA World Cup

Courtois was chosen for Belgium's team for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He was Belgium's main goalkeeper throughout the tournament. He played a key role in Belgium's 2–1 win over Brazil in the quarter-final. This win sent Belgium to the semi-finals for the first time since 1986. He kept two clean sheets in the group stage. He only let in one goal in Belgium's loss to France in the semi-final. He also kept another clean sheet against England in the third-place game. Courtois made 27 saves in seven World Cup games, more than any other goalkeeper. He won the World Cup Golden Glove award as the best goalkeeper of the tournament.

Recent International Games

He was part of the squad for UEFA Euro 2020. In November 2022, he was named in the team for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. On December 1, he played his 100th game for Belgium in a 0–0 draw against Croatia. He became the first Belgian goalkeeper to reach this milestone.

Courtois played in two of Belgium's qualifying matches for UEFA Euro 2024. However, he tore a ligament in his knee in August 2023, which kept him out for many months. Even though he recovered and helped Real Madrid win the Champions League, he was not chosen for the Euros. There was a disagreement between Belgium manager Domenico Tedesco and Courtois. Courtois was not named captain during a Euro 2024 qualifier, which caused a conflict. Courtois later said he would not be part of Belgium's squad for the 2024 tournament.

On August 22, 2024, Courtois announced he would not return to the national team for a while, mainly because of the conflict with Tedesco.

Return to the Team

On March 10, 2025, Courtois returned to the national team under the new manager, Rudi Garcia. This happened after Tedesco was no longer the manager in January. Courtois' return caused another Belgian goalkeeper, Koen Casteels, to leave the national team. Courtois played his first game for Belgium in almost two years on March 20, 2025, in a UEFA Nations League match against Ukraine, which Belgium lost 3–1.

How He Plays

Courtois making a save during the 2018 FIFA World Cup quarter-final match against Brazil, which Belgium won 2–1

Thibaut Courtois is considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world. He is described as a "complete goalkeeper" because he is good at many things. He is very consistent and has a great sense of where to be on the field. He is calm and strong-minded, and he communicates well with his defenders.

He is excellent in one-on-one situations, meaning when an attacker is coming towards him alone. He knows when to rush out of his goal to stop them. He can also act as a "sweeper-keeper," coming out of his penalty area to clear the ball. Courtois is a great shot-stopper, known for his quick reflexes and agility, even though he is tall and strong.

In the 2016–17 season, he improved his footwork and diving, which made him more explosive. Because of his height, he is very good at catching high balls and crosses. He is also known for his good technique and confidence when coming off his line. He can also throw the ball long distances to start attacks for his team.

Life Outside Football

Personal Life and Family

Courtois speaks Dutch, French, Spanish, and English. His older sister, Valérie Courtois, is a professional volleyball player for the Belgium national team. His parents were also volleyball players. Thibaut played volleyball when he was younger but decided to focus on football when he was 12.

On May 26, 2015, his Spanish girlfriend, Marta Domínguez, gave birth to their daughter, Adriana. They ended their relationship in April 2017, while Marta was pregnant with their son, Nicolás, who was born a month later.

Since July 2021, he has been in a relationship with Israeli model Mishel Gerzig. They adopted a dog together a month later. They got engaged in June 2022 and married a year later.

In Popular Culture

In January 2013, a Colombian fan created a social media trend called 'Thibauting'. This was inspired by a special save Courtois made. It was a way to honor the Belgian goalkeeper. In November 2013, the word was considered for the best new sports word of the year in Belgium. The term is similar to 'Tebowing' and 'planking'.

Racing Interest

Outside of football, Courtois is very interested in Formula 1 racing. He has attended races like the Monaco and Spanish Grand Prix.

In 2021, Courtois even took part in the 2021 F1 Virtual Grand Prix championship as a driver for Alfa Romeo.

In May 2023, Courtois started his own Formula 4 team called TC Racing. He plans for the team to compete in the Spanish F4 championship. The team is based near Madrid and was approved to race in November 2023. Courtois has an administrative role in the team. The team officially started racing in May 2024.

Career Statistics

Club Appearances

International Appearances

Trophies and Awards

Team Trophies

Genk

• Belgian Pro League: 2010–11

Atlético Madrid

• La Liga: 2013–14
• Copa del Rey: 2012–13
• UEFA Europa League: 2011–12
• UEFA Super Cup: 2012
• UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2013–14

Chelsea

• Premier League: 2014–15, 2016–17
• FA Cup: 2017–18; runner-up: 2016–17
• Football League Cup: 2014–15

Real Madrid

• La Liga: 2019–20, 2021–22, 2023–24
• Copa del Rey: 2022–23
• Supercopa de España: 2020, 2022
• UEFA Champions League: 2021–22, 2023–24
• UEFA Super Cup: 2022, 2024
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2018
• FIFA Intercontinental Cup: 2024

Belgium

• FIFA World Cup third place: 2018

Individual Awards

Courtois (left) receiving the Premier League Golden Glove award in 2017

• Belgian Professional Goalkeeper of the Year: 2011
• La Liga Zamora Trophy: 2012–13, 2013–14, 2019–20
• Premier League Golden Glove: 2016–17
• FIFA World Cup Golden Glove: 2018
• The Best FIFA Goalkeeper: 2018
• IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper: 2018, 2022
• Yashin Trophy: 2022

Images for kids

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  Courtois (in yellow) and Belgium defending against a Serbian corner during a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier in 2012

See also

In Spanish: Thibaut Courtois para niños