Thibaut Courtois, the goalkeeper of the Belgian national team, has left the door open for his continued representation of his country, but he has stipulated that he needs a break from international duty in the coming months to focus on recovery and maintain his physical fitness.

Courtois' comments came after Belgium's 2-1 loss to Spain in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup, a match he left injured, having earlier hinted at the possibility of retiring from international football.

Related News

The 34-year-old goalkeeper, who has made 115 international appearances since his debut in 2011, said he wants to have a quieter period with his club Real Madrid, explaining that he prefers to skip some UEFA Nations League matches to give opportunities to other goalkeepers such as Sen Laman, Mike Penders, and Martin Vandevoordt. He added: 'If the Belgian federation agrees to this, then I will be ready to continue with the national team.' Courtois also revealed details of the injury he sustained during the match against Spain, confirming that he felt pain in the front thigh muscle while executing a goal kick, which prevented him from continuing to send long balls. He explained: 'I felt good in the second half, made several saves, and wanted to stay on the pitch, but coach Rudi Garcia thought it was better to replace me since I wasn't fully fit, and I respect his decision because the team's interest comes first.' Regarding the mistake made by substitute goalkeeper Sen Laman, which Spain exploited to score the winning goal in the 88th minute, Courtois refused to blame his teammate for the loss, expressing his full support for him. He said: 'I went to him after the match and hugged him; there's not much to say in moments like these. It's just an unlucky moment, but he is an excellent goalkeeper with a great future, and these situations will make him stronger. He should not bear the blame alone.'

The Belgian national team is expected to begin its UEFA Nations League campaign with a match against Italy on September 25, amid anticipation of Courtois' final decision on his participation with the team in the upcoming period.