A sad blow to Belgium.. Courtois leaves the Spain match crying

Belgium suffered a heavy blow on Friday night during their World Cup 2026 quarter-final match against Spain when Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois (34) was forced off the field with a serious muscle injury in what could be his last appearance at the World Cup with the Red Devils.

Courtois collapsed on the edge of his penalty area after showing signs of severe pain before leaving the field in tears in a touching scene that reflected the extent of the frustration that had plagued the Belgian goalkeeper.

The moments following Courtois’ fall saw shock among the Belgian ranks, especially as the injury came at a critical moment in a match where the winner set up a semi-final date with France.

Manchester United goalkeeper Shaun Lammen replaced Courtois in a forced substitution that posed a major challenge for Belgium, who rely heavily on the Real Madrid star’s experience and defensive prowess.

The injury is a painful blow for the Red Devils, not only on the level of the current fixture, but also because it could end Courtois’ career for Belgium at the World Cup given his advanced age and the possibility of missing the next round of the tournament.

Courtois is considered one of the world’s most popular goalkeepers and a mainstay of Belgium’s defense in recent years, having been instrumental in the team’s progression to major tournaments.