“It’s not that easy” - Real Madrid star Thibaut Courtois appears to change stance in representing Belgium ahead of 2026 World Cup

Globe Soccer Awards 2024 - Source: Getty
Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois

Real Madrid's Thibaut Courtois has hinted that he could represent his national team ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Belgian goalkeeper has stayed away from his national team setup following a fallout with coach Domenico Tedesco.

In June 2023, Tedesco handed the armband to Romelu Lukaku in Kevin De Bruyne's absence. The decision irked Courtois, who left the training camp, further straining his relationship with the manager.

Courtois has appeared 102 times for Belgium in his career and has been one of their most important players. However, he was not part of the squad for Euro 2024 due to the ongoing rift.

Meanwhile, the 32-year-old has been extremely successful with Real Madrid, registering 104 clean sheets from 256 appearances to date. It appears that he could return to the national fold in the coming months, especially with the World Cup around the corner.

However, speaking to CNN (as cited by Mundo Deportivo), Courtois acknowledged that the process won't be easy.

“Obviously I hope to play another game, to say goodbye properly or to play again. I would love to play in the World Cup, but we’ll see what happens. It’s not that easy,” Courtois said.

Courtois' contract at the Santiago Bernabeu runs until 2026 and he has yet to sign an extension.


How many trophies has Thibaut Courtois won with Real Madrid?

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti

Thibaut Courtois joined Real Madrid from Chelsea in the summer of 2018 and has been a huge hit at the Santiago Bernabeu so far. The Belgian has won 12 trophies with Los Blancos and has been vital to their recent success.

Courtois has won the league thrice and the Champions League on two occasions. He has won the Spanish Supercup, UEFA Super Cup, Copa del Rey, FIFA Club World Cup, and FIFA Intercontinental Cup.

The player suffered an ACL injury in the summer of 2023 and returned to full fitness at the end of the campaign. He has appeared 20 times across competitions this season for the LaLiga giants, registering seven clean sheets.

Real Madrid remain on the hunt for multiple trophies this season. They are second on the league table after 18 games, a point behind leaders Atletico Madrid. Meanwhile, Carlo Ancelotti's team are 20th on the Champions League table after six games, with three wins and three defeats to their name so far.

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Edited by Parag Jain
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