Courtois requests year-long Belgium sabbatical after tearful World Cup exit against Spain

Thibaut Courtois has requested a one-year sabbatical from international football after Belgium were eliminated from World Cup 2026 by Spain, losing 2-1 in the quarter-finals. The Real Madrid goalkeeper was substituted in the 70th minute with a thigh injury, and his replacement Senne Lammens made a costly error in the dying moments that allowed Mikel Merino to score the match-winner.

“I want to rest for a year with no Belgium games, and then play the Euro 2028 qualifiers and the Euro 2028,” Courtois said after the match. “I don’t know if Belgium will agree to this.”

Courtois was visibly emotional when he left the pitch and admitted he had felt a muscular issue after a long kick early in the second half. He insisted, however, that the injury was not preventing him from performing his duties as a goalkeeper — only from kicking long — and that the decision to withdraw him was made by coach Rudi Garcia.

“I felt okay, so I continued,” Courtois explained in the post-match mixed zone. “Then, I kicked it long again and I felt it a bit more. So then, you know it’s something muscular, and you need to be careful. Obviously, I wanted to continue but the coach wanted someone 100%. It’s his decision — and it’s not a problem.”

Despite his own disappointment, Courtois was quick to defend Lammens, the Manchester United goalkeeper, after the error that ended Belgium’s tournament. “I gave him a big hug — there’s not much more I can do at this moment,” he said. “He’s a great goalkeeper and he will only get stronger from this. He has a lot of personality.”

Should Courtois follow through on his sabbatical request, Lammens and Chelsea youngster Mike Penders would likely compete for the Belgium No 1 jersey in the interim. The 33-year-old has had a turbulent international career in recent years, having previously taken an extended break from the national team, and his long-term future with the Red Devils now appears uncertain.

Spain advance to the semi-finals, where they face France in Dallas on Tuesday — a repeat of the Euro 2024 semi-final, which Spain won 2-1.