Thibaut Courtois, a Belgian professional footballer, is currently a goalkeeper for Spanish club Real Madrid and the Belgian national team. He was born on 11 May 1992 in Bree, Belgium. Courtois began his professional career at Genk, a Belgian-based football club, and quickly became recognised as one of the most promising young goalkeepers in Europe. His outstanding performances caught the attention of Chelsea, leading to his transfer to the London club in 2011. After a successful three-season loan spell at Atlético Madrid, during which he won numerous individual accolades and contributed to the club's 2013–14 La Liga title win, Courtois returned to Chelsea and became the team's main goalkeeper. During his tenure at Chelsea, he won two Premier League titles, the FA Cup and the League Cup. In 2018, Courtois joined Real Madrid, one of the most renowned and successful football clubs in the world. He quickly established himself as the team's first-choice goalkeeper and has since won various individual honours, including being named the UEFA Champions League Goalkeeper of the Year in the 2021–22 season. Courtois also played a crucial role in the Belgian national team, helping them reach the semi-finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, where they eventually finished third. With over 100 appearances for Belgium, he is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
When Real Madrid won the league title in the 2019–20 season, Courtois became the first player since José Luis Pérez-Payá in 1954 to win La Liga with both Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid. He had previously won the league with Los Rojiblancos in the 2013–14 season. In the same season, the two city rivals met in the UEFA Champions League final. Courtois ended up on the losing side as Los Blancos emerged victorious with a 4–1 scoreline, winning their 10th European title.
At 6-foot-6, Courtois probably could have been a basketball player in another universe. However, being a footballer didn’t keep him away from basketball. The Belgian is often seen attending NBA games in the United States and also streams the show “NBA 2K Sundays” on his Twitch channel, where football and basketball players play against each other in the basketball video game.
In a heartwarming tribute to the talented Belgian goalkeeper, a Colombian fan created the hugely popular social media meme “Thibauting” after being inspired by Courtois’ distinctive stance during a remarkable save in January 2013. The term has gained considerable recognition and even came second in a survey conducted by Van Dale, a leading Dutch dictionary, in November 2013, in which participants voted for the most notable new sports or entertainment word of the year in Belgium. The phrase itself is inspired by the similar-sounding “Tebowing” and is associated with the global phenomenon of “planking”, which gained popularity in 2011.
Courtois played a pivotal role in Real Madrid's remarkable run in the 2021-22 UEFA Champions League, becoming one of the team's heroes and contributing to their memorable 14th European title. The 30-year-old goalkeeper demonstrated his exceptional ability by making an incredible 59 saves throughout the tournament. This remarkable feat sets a new record since Opta began collecting data in the 2003-04 season, highlighting Courtois' immense talent and agility. His save percentage stood at an impressive 80,6, further highlighting his unrivalled shot-stopping abilities. Notably, Courtois put his best foot forward in the final against Liverpool, making nine crucial saves. This feat is the most saves ever recorded in a Champions League final, cementing his status as a dominant force between the posts. Courtois' remarkable performance Thibaut Courtois in the 2021-22 Champions League campaign, with 59 saves, sets a new record for the most saves made in a single season. Additionally, his outstanding performance in the final, with nine saves, marks the most saves ever recorded in a Champions League final.
Atlético Madrid travelled to the Santiago Bernabéu for their first league match of the 2011–12 season on 27 November 2011. In the 22nd minute of the match, Courtois fouled Benzema in the box and awarded a penalty. The Belgian received a straight red for his foul, which was his first sending off in senior football. It is amusing that he received his first ever red for a foul on the player who is now the captain of the team he plays for.
Courtois had a deep admiration for Real Madrid as a child and considered Iker Casillas, then the club's number one goalkeeper, as his idol. Casillas was a major inspiration for the young Belgian. "I have very vivid memories of Iker's early matches. As a child, watching his performances fuelled my passion for Real Madrid. My mother, who works as a physiotherapist, had a patient who regularly attended matches, and they would bring me "I collected souvenirs like flags and Iker-themed jerseys. From that moment on, my support for the club only grew stronger and I dreamed of representing them one day," Courtois said after Real Madrid won the Spanish Super Cup in January 2020.
Courtois’ linguistic abilities are truly impressive, as he has dedicated himself to mastering five different languages. His skills extend to Dutch, English, Spanish, German, and French. Hailing from Belgium, Courtois naturally grew up speaking Dutch, one of the country’s official languages. Additionally, he has honed his skills in English, likely due to its status as a widely spoken language in the world of professional football and its dominance in international communication. Courtois’ move to Spain and subsequent stint at Real Madrid necessitated the acquisition of Spanish, in order to communicate effectively with teammates, coaches, and fans. His fluency in Spanish has undoubtedly contributed to his seamless integration into the team and the local culture. Interestingly, Courtois has also made an effort to learn German, perhaps due to its importance in the world of football, particularly in international competitions and when playing against German-speaking opponents. Furthermore, Courtois' linguistic repertoire has expanded to include French, which is spoken in a variety of footballing contexts, such as matches against French clubs or when interacting with French-speaking teammates and coaches. Courtois' ability to speak these five languages fluently showcases his dedication and adaptability, allowing him to communicate and connect effectively with people from different backgrounds and cultures throughout his football career.
Having grown up in a family immersed in the world of volleyball, Thibaut Courtois was himself involved in the sport until the age of 12. However, he made the crucial decision to focus entirely on football. Courtois' family ties to volleyball run deep, with his sister, Valérie Courtois, proudly representing the Belgian women's national volleyball team. Furthermore, his parents themselves were actively involved in the sport, having pursued their own volleyball careers. The influence of his volleyball background and the support of his volleyball-playing family likely played a significant role in Courtois' sporting journey and contributed to his overall athletic development.
Courtois, who hails from the town of Bree in the northern region of Flanders, Belgium, began his footballing journey with a local team called Bilzen VV during his early years. Surprisingly, at that time, he played as a left-back, demonstrating his versatility on the pitch. However, in 1999, Courtois made a significant transition in his career when he joined Racing Genk. It was at this renowned club that he would eventually make his professional debut. Notably, during his time at Genk, Courtois underwent a positional change and transformed into a goalkeeper, a decision that would shape his future and set him on the path to becoming one of the most fearsome goalkeepers in the world.