Thibaut Courtois: Why is Real Madrid goalkeeper not playing for Belgium at Euro 2024?

Despite helping Real Madrid to victory in the UEFA Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund, Thibaut Courtois will not feature for Belgium at Euro 2024.

Courtois was a surprise omission from Belgium’s Euro 2024 squad, with manager Domenico Tedesco deeming the goalkeeper to be not fully fit.

The 32-year-old suffered a serious knee ligament injury ahead of the 2023/24 season, but managed to return for Madrid to play five games, including the Champions League final where he kept a clean sheet in a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund.

“He was honest and clear,” Tedesco said of the decision to leave Courtois out of the squad. “He knows his body the best, and it's different to play every three or four days during a tournament.

“So, when taking all this into consideration, we didn't think he was ready for the Euros. Of course, we now plan with the players that are able to play.”

However, a frosty relationship between Courtois and Tedesco could have played a part in the goalkeeper’s omission.

Their relationship soured last year after Courtois stormed out of Belgium training over a row about the captaincy.

Courtois wanted the captain’s armband for a home Euro 2024 qualifying match to celebrate his 100th cap for the national side, but was denied when Tedesco named Romelu Lukaku as skipper instead.

Courtois was furious and said it felt like a “breach of trust”.

“The fact that I no longer felt appreciation from the federation and trainer made something explode within me,” Courtois told Sporza. “The coach made no effort to find a solution but simply said he would tell the press everything.

“He wanted to pressure me not to leave and threaten me.”

Courtois also appeared to call Tedesco a liar in a post on X, formerly Twitter, in March, and has not played for Belgium since the spat.

Euro 2024 will be Belgium’s first major tournament without Courtois since 2012, with the keeper playing every match of the 2014, 2018 and 2022 World Cups, as well as the 2016 and 2020 Euros.

Belgium’s new No. 1 is Koen Casteels, who plays for Saudi club Al Qadsiah.

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