​Real Madrid have been handed an early fitness setback ahead of the new season after Thibaut Courtois sustained a muscle injury while with Belgium at the World Cup. The goalkeeper left the quarter-final defeat to Spain in tears, immediately sparking concerns about his availability for the start of the campaign.
According to Defensa Central, sports physiotherapist and injury specialist Angel Villanueva believes Courtois could be sidelined for a period of four to eight weeks. The full extent of the issue has not yet been confirmed, as the player is due to undergo official medical tests to determine the precise nature and severity of the injury. Villanueva described the problem as a muscular issue in the left rectus femoris and indicated that the prognosis points to an absence of roughly four to eight weeks. If accurate, that recovery window would cast serious doubt on Courtois’s readiness for Real Madrid’s early fixtures.
The new La Liga season is scheduled to kick off over the weekend of August 16, though Real Madrid’s opener against Real Sociedad is expected to be postponed. After the game with Spain, Courtois told reporters that he was prepared to remain in goal despite the injury, but it ultimately depended on the manager’s decision to substitute him. While his remarks could be interpreted as a sign that he did not regard the injury as severely limiting, they might also reflect a desire to support his country in a difficult moment. Should the situation not improve rapidly, Andriy Lunin is likely to start the season between the sticks, at least initially.
Having Courtois out would be a strategic challenge for Jose Mourinho and the Real Madrid coaching staff. Although Lunin is a capable deputy, losing the club’s undisputed first-choice goalkeeper would force Madrid to adjust their defensive organization and game plan at the outset of the campaign. Courtois remains one of Real Madrid’s most influential players, with standout shot-stopping ability, authority in high-stakes matches, and extensive experience that are hard to replace, even with a reliable backup.
In recent seasons, injury issues have begun to shadow Courtois’s performances, a development that is understandable given his age. The Belgian endured a serious knee injury during the 2023-24 season and has since battled additional muscular problems, including a tear that kept him out for more than a month last term. At 34, careful workload management will become increasingly important, though this does not diminish his value or level of performance. Real Madrid cannot ignore repeated physical setbacks, and the club’s staff must exercise extreme caution in handling the injury, avoiding risk unless Courtois is genuinely fit and ready to play.
For now, the hope at the Santiago Bernabéu is that the medical prognosis is favorable and that Courtois can return to full training and competitive action sooner rather than later. It remains to be seen exactly what injury he has sustained and how long his absence will last, but Madrid will be keen to protect their number one while ensuring he is fully prepared to compete at the highest level when he returns. This situation will undoubtedly influence early-season planning as the club prepares to balance squad rotation, defensive stability, and the overarching aim of challenging on multiple fronts in the coming months.