Courtois speaks out on injury that forced him off against Spain

Belgium’s World Cup 2026 campaign came to a heartbreaking end after a quarterfinal loss to Spain, and the moment that turned the match was Thibaut Courtois’s early exit with a muscle issue. Senne Lammens replaced the veteran keeper and made a costly mistake deep in stoppage time, sealing Belgium’s elimination. Courtois addressed the incident after the final whistle. “I had sharp pain in my quadriceps. It didn’t stop me from staying in goal, but kicking became really difficult. The coach decided to take me off, and I have no issue with that – the team comes first,” the Real Madrid shot-stopper said. Spain will now face France in the semifinal of the 2026 World Cup.