Thibaut Courtois has gone through a rough couple of years mainly because of serious knee injuries and a big fallout with the Belgium national team, but he is still Real Madrid’s first-choice goalkeeper and under contract until 2027.

Quick Scoop: What happened to Courtois?

  • He suffered two major knee injuries (including an ACL) that wiped out most of his 2023–24 season and forced a race against time to be fit again for Real Madrid, including the Champions League final.
  • Despite that, he fought back and returned to play at a high level, with Real Madrid still viewing him as one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
  • Physically, there are now long‑term concerns at Madrid about how much longer his body – especially his knees – can handle the top level, which is why the club is already thinking about “life after Courtois.”
  • Contract-wise, his deal has been extended to 2027 , so he remains tied to Real Madrid for at least one more season, even though he reportedly declined an extra two‑year extension to 2028.
  • On the international side, he had a self‑imposed exile from Belgium after a bust‑up in 2023, with a lot of speculation that it was about the captain’s armband, which he says is not true.
  • In 2025 he finally returned to the Belgium squad, saying he wasn’t mentally ready before, admitted he made mistakes, and said he’d “talked everything out” with his teammates.

Mini timeline

  • 2021 – Extends his Real Madrid contract to 2026.
  • 2023–24 season – Suffers serious knee injuries, misses almost the entire season, then battles back to fitness.
  • 2023 – Leaves Belgium camp, big controversy over his exit and relationship with coach and federation.
  • 2025 – Returns to Belgium, explains his side, says there were “misunderstandings” and that he wasn’t mentally ready and was also injured.
  • 2025–2026 – Real Madrid secure him with a deal running to 2027, but are increasingly worried about his long‑term physical condition and what comes after him.

Club situation vs. national team

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Aspect Real Madrid Belgium
Current status Starting goalkeeper, still viewed as “untouchable” when fit.Re‑integrated into squad after long absence.
Contract / future Under contract until 2027, club already planning for post‑Courtois era due to age and knees.Hopes of fresh start after controversies, but relationship with fans and federation needed rebuilding.
Main issues Repeating knee problems, physical wear at 33+, long‑term durability.Past exit from camp, misunderstandings, questions over commitment and captaincy rumours.

Forum / “trending topic” angle

On forums and social media, “what happened to Courtois” usually mixes three threads:

  1. Injuries and age
    Fans talk about whether he can stay at his peak after multiple knee problems, and if Madrid should already sign his successor.
  1. Belgium drama
    The story about him leaving the national team camp, the captaincy rumours, and then his emotional return and apologies is a constant debate among Belgian and neutral fans.
  1. Legacy vs future
    Many still call him one of the best keepers of his generation, while others wonder if these last years – injuries, controversy, reduced availability – will shorten his time at the very top.

In short, nothing “mysterious” happened to Courtois – he’s still at Real Madrid and back with Belgium – but serious knee injuries, contract questions, and that national‑team controversy have made his last few seasons far more turbulent than you’d expect for a goalkeeper of his level.

Note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.