​Thibaut Courtois has taken a bold step by requesting a one-year sabbatical from international duty with Belgium following Belgium’s exit from the World Cup 2026. The Real Madrid goalkeeper was seen in tears after being substituted in the 70th minute for Senne Lammens during the 2-1 defeat to Spain, a loss that will be remembered for the late mistake by the substitute that allowed Mikel Merino to seal the Spaniards’ win. Courtois looked distraught at full-time and now appears to be weighing his international future, with Lammens and Chelsea’s rising talent Mike Penders likely to compete for the No. 1 shirt should he decide to step away from the Red Devils.
“I want to rest for a year with no Belgium games, and then play the Euro 2028 qualifiers and the Euro 2028 tournament. I don’t know if Belgium will agree to this,” Courtois said, hinting at negotiations and the potential impact on Belgium’s squad planning.
The decision came after Courtois had briefly continued in Belgium’s quarter-final defeat to Spain despite a thigh issue sustained in the second half. He clutched his left thigh during the second period but later admitted that the injury did not feel overly severe, explaining that it was a muscular problem that required caution. He noted that it was the coach’s call to substitute him, stressing that it was about bringing on a 100-percent option rather than a lingering issue.
“I felt something near my muscle from a long kick at the start of the second half,” Courtois explained in the post-match mixed zone. “I made some saves and felt okay, so I kept going. Then I kicked long again and felt it a bit more. It’s clearly something muscular, and you have to be careful. I wanted to continue, perhaps for five or ten more minutes, to see how I felt because I was making saves and wasn’t hindered from doing them. The difficulty was on the kickoff long ball. That was the coach’s decision—and it’s not a problem.”
Courtois also offered support for his fellow goalkeeper in the closing minutes, Senne Lammens, who made an error that contributed to the defeat. He emphasized that Lammens possesses a strong personality and that the setback would only help him grow. “I gave him a big hug; there’s not much more I can do at this moment,” Courtois said. “He’s a great goalkeeper and he will only get stronger from this. He has a lot of personality.”
For Courtois, the outcome of the match was painful, as he explained the personal disappointment of leaving a World Cup quarter-final, but he also looked ahead to recovery and a potential return after a period of rest. “We will rest for the next few weeks and then assess the injury,” he remarked, underscoring his willingness to take time away from international duty to refresh and regroup.
Spain advances to the semi-finals to face France in a high-profile all-European clash in Dallas. The two teams meet in a rematch of the Euro 2024 semi-final, a game that Spain won 2-1, setting up another thrilling encounter in a tournament that will captivate European football fans.
As Belgium navigates this transitional moment, questions about the national team’s goalkeeping depth and future leadership loom large. Lammens and Penders could emerge as the frontrunners for the No. 1 jersey if Courtois departs, a shift that would shape Belgium’s strategy well into the Euro 2028 cycle. The coming weeks will be crucial as Courtois contemplates a year away from international football, weighing personal rest against the ongoing pursuit of Belgium’s ambitions on the global stage.