Thibaut Courtois, the esteemed goalkeeper for Belgium, has been ruled out of Euro 2024 due to a knee ligament injury. Despite a potential return for his club, Real Madrid, Courtois will not be able to participate in the upcoming European Championship.

Courtois, aged 31, has been sidelined for the entire season as a result of his knee injury, which necessitated another operation in March following a setback. Although there is a possibility of him making a comeback for Real Madrid before the season concludes, Belgium’s coach, Domenico Tedesco, has confirmed that Courtois will not be considered for Euro 2024 selection.

Having earned 102 caps for Belgium, Courtois expressed in December his acknowledgment that he would not fully recover in time to compete in the tournament set to take place in Germany this June and July.

In response to inquiries about Courtois’ availability, Tedesco remarked to German media on Tuesday, “On this topic, everything has already been said. I don’t want a tit-for-tat situation. We are focusing on players who are in good shape.”

Meanwhile, Real Madrid’s manager, Carlo Ancelotti, remains optimistic about Courtois’ potential return to action. Ancelotti has indicated his hope that Courtois could feature in Saturday’s La Liga fixture against Cadiz, signaling a possible comeback for the talented goalkeeper on the club level.

Courtois’ absence from Euro 2024 will undoubtedly be felt by the Belgian national team, as they prepare to compete in one of Europe’s most prestigious football tournaments. However, with the focus now on players who are fit and ready, Belgium will look to move forward with a determined squad as they aim for success in the upcoming championship.