Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is earning legendary comparisons after another incredible performance in the Champions League, Soccernet.football reports.
The Belgian shot-stopper helped Madrid secure a 3-1 win over Stuttgart on Tuesday, making crucial saves to give his side the perfect start in their 2024/25 European campaign.
Courtois, who returned from an ACL injury late last season to play in the Champions League final, has continued his dominant form.
Many, including former La Liga and Real Madrid goalkeeper Santi Canizares, are hailing him as the greatest of his generation.
Speaking to Movistar+ (as per TribalFootball), Canizares lavished Courtois with praise, placing him in the same bracket as football’s biggest names.
“Courtois is the best of all,” Canizares stated. “There was a time when we said, there’s Messi and there are the others, or there’s Maradona… well, this is similar. Courtois is the Maradona, the Messi, the Cristiano of goalkeeping. He’s much better than the rest and he’s there every day.”
Canizares continued, “We have become accustomed to important saves from balls that go into the corner, balls that go down to the ground quickly. With another goalkeeper, we would highlight these moments, but we have become accustomed to seeing this as normal. That is the greatness of, for me, the best goalkeeper I have ever seen play football.”
The Spanish legend did not hold back, declaring Courtois as “without a doubt, the best in history.”
Courtois’ career has seen a remarkable turnaround.
Once doubted after a shaky first season at Real Madrid, he now boasts an impressive record, having won six league titles and two Champions League trophies.
His 78.4% save percentage at Madrid underlines his brilliance between the posts, putting him in the conversation as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time.