Monday evening was historic for Belgian football. Kevin De Bruyne became the first Belgian to climb on the Ballon d’Or podiumwhereas Thibaut Courtois lifted the Yachine Trophy awarded to the best goalkeeper of the season. The Real Madrid goalkeeper, however, remained a bit unsatisfied, given his sensational 2021-2022 season.
“I am very happy for Karim Benzema”he began at the microphone of the Cadena SER. “I’m not saying I would have won it, but I’m not even on the podium being the goalkeeper who won La Liga and the Champions League. It seems that scoring a goal is better than stopping it. C “is a battle that remains to be won. Seeing the logic and knowing how they vote, I knew I would have no chance of winning it.”
In history, only one goalkeeper has won the Golden Ball: Russian Lév Yachine in 1963. But in recent years, few of the last ramparts have appeared in the top 3. Manuel Neuer (3rd in 2014) and Gianluigi Buffon (2nd in 2006) are moreover the only two of the last twenty editions.
“A future winning goalkeeper? I see it as impossible for a goalkeeper”believes Thibaut Courtois. “It’s impossible to win this award. I don’t know if as a goalkeeper you can do more than what I did last year.”
Maybe win a World Cup on top of the rest? This is obviously everything the Madrid goalkeeper dreams of, who will however first have to resume competition after his forced stoppage caused by pain in the sciatic nerve. “I have done 3 or 4 training sessions and I am improving. I hope to be on the pitch soon.”
