Considered by many to be the best goalkeeper in the world, the Belgian is once again having a top-quality season with Real Madrid.
He almost never disappoints when the pressure is on him in major La Liga or Champions League matches. Thibaut Courtois is the goalkeeper any manager in the world would dream of having. In an unbalanced Real Madrid team that consequently suffers numerous chances, the Belgian international is playing his best and has already saved his team on several occasions. His role as defensive anchor fits him like a glove.
A consistency that commands respect
Starting 38 times this season for Real Madrid, 32-year-old Thibaut Courtois is the epitome of consistency at the highest level, which is the difference between a good goalkeeper and a world-class one. While Real Madrid has been struggling defensively since the start of the season, the Belgian is holding the fort with a masterful hand. Without him, Madrid would certainly no longer be competing in any competition.
Saves that win matches
Just as Kylian Mbappé earns Real Madrid points with his goals, Thibaut Courtois also helps the Merengues maintain precious victories thanks to his numerous decisive saves. In his last five matches in the white shirt (Villarreal, Atlético twice, Betis, and Girona), the Madrid goalkeeper has made a total of 20 saves, including 13 from shots inside the box…
The Belgian is called upon in almost every match and always delivers. It’s even difficult to remember his last “blunder,” as he rarely makes one. A player Carlo Ancelotti can always count on, despite the few physical setbacks he’s encountered this season.
A complete goalkeeper
Thibaut Courtois is like a fine wine; he gets even better with age. Indeed, after his serious knee injury last season, the Belgian goalkeeper has come back stronger than ever, and today, at 32, he’s even showing signs of improvement in certain areas. It just goes to show that there’s no age limit for learning. He’s obviously monstrous on the line, possesses impressive reflexes with his feet and hands, and also dominates aerial exits, which was one of his “weak points” at one point in his career.
Thibaut Courtois knows perfectly how to use his large wingspan (he’s about 2 meters tall) to make the penalty area his territory, making it very difficult to bother him. He has two hands that are equally firm when it comes to stopping cannonballs from the world’s greatest strikers. The only small drawback, since you have to find one anyway, is that his kicking game isn’t always the most precise, even if that’s not what you expect from a great goalkeeper.
Leave a Reply