Thibaut Nicolas Marc Courtois (born 11 May 1992) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for La Liga club Real Madrid and the Belgium national team. Regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, he is known for his reflexes, acrobatic saves, and command of the penalty area.[4][5][6]

Thibaut Courtois
Personal information
Full name
Thibaut Nicolas Marc Courtois[1]
Date of birth
11 May 1992 (age 31)[2]
Place of birth
Bree, Belgium
Height
2.00 m (6 ft 7 in)[3]
Position(s)
Goalkeeper


Team information
Current team
Real Madrid
Number
1
Youth career
1997–1999
Bilzen V.V.
1999–2009
Genk
Senior career*
Years
Team
Apps
(Gls)
2009–2011
Genk
41
(0)
2011–2018
Chelsea
126
(0)
2011–2014
→ Atlético Madrid (loan)
111
(0)
2018–
Real Madrid
166
(0)
International career‡
2009–2010
Belgium U18
4
(0)
2011–
Belgium
102
(0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing Belgium
FIFA World Cup
Third place 2018 
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:27, 4 June 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16:00, 18 June 2023 (UTC)
Courtois began his career with Genk and made his senior debut in 2009, at age 16; he went on to establish himself as the club's starting goalkeeper and won the Belgian Pro League. In 2011, Courtois signed for Chelsea in a transfer worth a reported £8 million (€9 million), but then joined Atlético Madrid on loan. At Atlético, Courtois won a La Liga title, the Copa del Rey, the Europa League, and reached the UEFA Champions League final. He returned to Chelsea in 2014 and won two Premier League titles and the EFL Cup. In 2018, Courtois signed for Real Madrid in a deal worth a reported £35 million (€38.8 million), becoming La Liga's most expensive goalkeeper, and where he has gone on to win two La Liga titles and the Champions League.

Courtois made his senior international debut for Belgium in 2011 at age 19, becoming their youngest senior international goalkeeper. He has since earned over 100 caps, ranking seventh-highest for appearances, while he has appeared in five major tournaments. At the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Courtois won the Golden Glove as the best goalkeeper as he helped Belgium finish third, their highest-ever finish at the competition.

Courtois has won the Ricardo Zamora Trophy three times, the Premier League Golden Glove once, and was named the third-best goalkeeper of the decade (2011–2020) by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS).