Is Thibaut Courtois the best goalkeeper ever?

When we talk about the best goalkeepers in history, Buffon, Casillas, Yashin, Kahn or Schmeichel are names that come to mind. For some time now, Thibaut Courtois has also been in that circle.

The Belgian giant only needed six seasons at Real Madrid (one of which he missed almost entirely through injury) to be considered by many fans as the best goalkeeper in Real Madrid's history.

Until recently, Iker Casillas was considered the best Real Madrid goalkeeper in history and with good reason, but the current feeling is that Courtois is far better than Casillas ever was.

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Now the debate continues and focuses on whether Courtois can become or is already the best goalkeeper in history.

Among the arguments in the Belgian's favour, of course, is his intimidating stature between the posts. His wingspan helps him cover almost the entire goal.

Courtois has had glorious nights in the Champions League in front of millions of people, and this adds to the legend. We think of his two Champions League finals against Liverpool (2022) and Dortmund (2024), where he was vital to Real Madrid's victory in both finals.

Courtois is the perfect definition of a modern and complete goalkeeper. He is a giant with more than acceptable footwork and, above all, enormous confidence in the air, an almost historic weakness at Real Madrid.

Moreover, Courtois does not make many big mistakes. Indeed, it is hard to remember one, except that poor control at Anfield that Salah took advantage of to score the 2-0 in the Champions League round of 16, in February 2023. The match ended in a historic 2-5 final score.

But what makes Courtois so terrifying as a goalkeeper is that those who appear in front of him have to think about what to do to beat him. That second it takes the opponent to analyse the situation allows the Belgian to anticipate and get to the ball.

Special mention should be made of his ability to cover the goal in one-on-one situations, when he is a real wall. So much so, that as of 18 September 2024, Courtois' record in a Real Madrid shirt stands at 222 goals conceded in 242 games. Less than one goal per game.

Courtois played just five games in the 2023/2024 season, according to Transfermarkt, after recovering from a cruciate ligament tear followed by a meniscus tear. Five games in which he did not concede a single goal, and the last of which was the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund.

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All this is only within the reach of the best, something everyone agrees on, but is Courtois the best goalkeeper in history?