Thibaut Courtois Shortlisted for 2026 Ballon d’Or Goalkeeper Award
Thibaut Courtois has been shortlisted for the 2026 Ballon d’Or Best Goalkeeper award, adding another major individual honour to a career in which the Real Madrid No.1 has collected silverware in Belgium, Spain and England.
Courtois joins 10-man goalkeeper shortlist
The 34-year-old Belgian is among the contenders for the specialist goalkeeper prize at this year’s Ballon d’Or ceremony. Courtois previously won the Yashin Trophy in 2022 and was named FIFA’s Best Goalkeeper in 2018.
- Yassine Bounou
- Joan García
- Gregor Kobel
- Emi Martínez
- Edouard Mendy
- David Raya
- Matvey Safonov
- Unai Simon
- Vozinha
Former Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson and Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak have also been regularly mentioned in debates over the game’s leading keeper. Simon has become a World Cup winner with Spain, while Raya has won Arsenal’s Golden Glove but has found himself behind Simon for the national side.
Belgium backing despite Courtois absence
A former Belgium international has insisted Courtois remains the outstanding goalkeeper in world football, even though he is not currently playing for his country.
Senne Lammens is Belgium’s current goalkeeper, but the former international said Courtois has spent the past 15 years among the world’s top three and has been unrivalled over roughly the last seven or eight seasons.
He added that replacing Courtois is difficult because of the impact he made at every club, describing him as a player who won every available major honour and consistently delivered when required. He also said Belgium remain fortunate to have a goalkeeper of Courtois’ calibre.
From Genk teenager to Madrid mainstay
Courtois made his senior debut for Genk at just 16 before Chelsea paid €9 million, then valued at £8m and $10m, to sign him in 2011.
With Petr Cech established at Stamford Bridge, Courtois spent three consecutive campaigns on loan at Atletico Madrid. The regular minutes in Spain helped accelerate his development, and he won the Europa League during that spell.
| Club | Key record |
|---|---|
| Chelsea | 154 appearances in four seasons; two league titles, FA Cup and League Cup |
| Real Madrid | 345 appearances since joining in 2018 |
After returning to Chelsea, Courtois won two English top-flight titles as well as domestic cup honours. Real Madrid then signed him in 2018 for £35m, or $47m, and he has since become one of the side’s most dependable performers.
What happens next
Courtois remains under contract at the Bernabeu, with an extension through to 2028 under discussion. Madrid will be watching the Ballon d’Or outcome closely, while Belgium’s goalkeeper situation remains under scrutiny as Lammens currently holds the international place.
