Thibaut Courtois is expected to return in goal for Real Madrid against Racing Santander on Sunday, moving level with Miguel Angel as the club’s third-most-capped goalkeeper.
The Belgium international missed the clasico because of a bout of illness but is set to reclaim his place between the posts in Santander. Courtois has been Real Madrid’s first-choice goalkeeper since joining the club in 2018.
According to Spanish newspaper Marca, his eight years at Real Madrid have already established him among the finest goalkeepers in the club’s history. His appearance on Sunday will be his 346th for the Spanish side, matching Miguel Angel’s total.
Only Paco Buyo, with 454 appearances, and record-holder Iker Casillas, who played 725 times for Real Madrid, will remain ahead of him.
Breaking Casillas’ record appears beyond Courtois, who is 34. Although an extension to his contract until at least 2028 is considered almost certain, his age means he is unlikely to have enough time to approach the former Spain international’s total.
Casillas began his career much earlier and remained Real Madrid’s first-choice goalkeeper for 16 seasons. Even though the final years of his spell were unsettled, they helped him establish a record that appears difficult to challenge, at least in the foreseeable future.
Courtois’ numbers are all the more notable given that he has been at the club for only eight years. His appearance total could have been higher had he not suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury during pre-season ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.
That injury kept him out for 50 matches, although he returned in time to start Real Madrid’s Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley. His display provided further evidence of his standing as one of the world’s leading goalkeepers, even if it did not match the extraordinary performance he produced in the 2022 final against Liverpool.
Courtois has won two Champions League titles with Real Madrid, putting him close to Casillas’ three triumphs in the competition. His honours also include four La Liga titles, two Premier League titles, two cup trophies, one FA Cup and three Spanish Super Cup winners’ medals, among other honours.
Most of those successes came with Real Madrid, although Courtois also won trophies with Atletico Madrid and Chelsea. He won the Belgian league with Genk during the 2010-11 season.
The past two seasons have brought considerable team disappointment, while Courtois has also dealt with seven separate injuries. One of those, a meniscus tear, ruled him out for eight matches.
Real Madrid have nevertheless remained certain about his future. Club officials at Valdebebas say: “He will stay until he decides to leave.”
The fixture listings also show Barcelona against Deportivo Alaves in La Liga on 31 October 2026, with Racing Santander hosting Real Madrid in La Liga on 1 November 2026.
