Thibaut Courtois was unable to complete the 2026 World Cup quarterfinal clash between Belgium and Spain, limping off the SoFi Stadium pitch after sustaining a muscle injury.
Although the Real Madrid shot-stopper conceded a goal, he had been Belgium’s ultimate safety net throughout the match, pulling off four extraordinary saves to keep the scoreline leveled.
However, in the 71st minute, Courtois was forced to leave the field. He was replaced by Senne Lammens, making his World Cup debut in what can only be described as a catastrophic turn of events.
In the 87th minute, the Manchester United goalkeeper failed to cleanly handle a routine shot that was well within his reach. The ball spilled directly into the path of Spanish substitute Mikel Merino, who instinctively poked it into the back of the net, scoring Spain’s winning goal in the dying minutes of the match.
Overall, this was only the third international appearance for the 24-year-old goalkeeper with the Belgium national team. From his very first moments on the pitch, Lammens showed visible signs of nerves, clearly overwhelmed by the magnitude of the match and the high-pressure timing of his introduction.
Lammens is widely regarded as one of the world’s most promising young goalkeepers in recent years. Manchester United secured his services last year in a €21 million transfer, and he is fully expected to succeed Courtois as the future long-term number one for the Red Devils.
Prior to the tournament, Courtois had indicated that he was considering international retirement after the 2026 World Cup, though he has yet to make a definitive decision regarding his international future.
With this defeat, Belgium officially exits the World Cup following an impressive campaign. Rudi Garcia’s men topped their group—which included Egypt, New Zealand, and Iran—before eliminating tournament co-hosts, the USA, in the previous round.
