De Bruyne and Courtois cast doubt over Belgium futures after World Cup exit to Spain

Kevin De Bruyne and Thibaut Courtois left their Belgium futures unresolved after the Red Devils were knocked out of the World Cup by Spain 2-1, with both veterans admitting the physical demands of elite football have pushed them to the brink of stepping away from international duty.

De Bruyne, earning his 124th cap in the defeat, pointed to a gruelling stretch that included hamstring surgery in late 2025 as the reason he needs time away. “I have two or three difficult years behind me and underwent major surgery,” the 35-year-old told Sporza. “I am proud to be standing here, to give everything every day, and to be able to be an example for this young team.” When asked whether the loss was his final Belgium appearance, he stopped short of a definitive answer: “I don’t think so, but let me take a break for a bit now. It has been a busy year, and then we’ll see.”

Courtois had a more pressing concern to deal with, having been substituted during the Spain defeat with a quadriceps problem despite wanting to play on. The Real Madrid goalkeeper, capped 115 times, outlined a specific proposal to the federation: a year away from the Nations League in exchange for his continued availability for the European Championship qualifiers and the tournament itself. “It would be good to take a year-long break from the Nations League so I can find some rest,” he said. “It is now up to the national coach and the federation to make a choice.”

Courtois confirmed he will hold talks with Belgian FA chief Vincent Mannaert and head coach Rudi Garcia, but made clear the stakes if those discussions go against him. “If they see it differently than I do, then I will have to consider whether I can remain a Red Devil. Perhaps this was my last match as an international.”

The uncertainty surrounding both players adds a significant dimension to Belgium’s post-tournament rebuild. De Bruyne is expected to take time to recover before making any formal decision, while the outcome of Courtois’s talks with Garcia and Mannaert will likely determine whether one of Europe’s most decorated goalkeepers continues in the red and black.