Where does Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois rank among the best goalkeepers in the world in 2022?

1. Thibaut Courtois, Real Madrid

Thibaut Courtois enjoyed a brilliant season in 2020-21 but Real Madrid couldn’t win a single trophy and that is why a lot of their standout performers were snubbed by the annual award committees. Thibaut Courtois was one of them. The Belgian has continued to perform at the highest possible level for seasons now, and yet, there has been next to none in terms of recognition.

This season, however, it’s a different narrative. Thibaut Courtois has already been the star in the season’s first title for his team, Real Madrid in form of the Spanish Supercup. He saved a penalty in the dying embers of the final to deny a way back for Athletic Club. He has also saved two penalties in LaLiga and has allowed only one which also was on a rebound.

Real Madrid is playing a very defensive line this season which is why they are conceding more and as a result, Courtois’s clean sheets have taken the hit. But even without it, there is a lot for Courtois to make his case as the most in-form goalkeeper in the world right now.

He has the highest save percentage in the Champions League at 88% conceding one goal every 180 minutes. In LaLiga, Real Madrid’s open gameplay has meant a reduced saving percentage at 74% which is still the third-highest on the list. Moreover, Courtois has also stopped the most number of crosses (18) at a stopping percentage of 9.1.

Thanks to every cm of his height, Real Madrid has conceded just one goal from a set-piece and that speaks a lot about Courtois’s attentive play, he is always alive to the snapshots and is dropping masterclasses at a frequent rate. Already with a title and on course to win LaLiga, Thibaut Courtois could make the charts move to his advantage and he may finally be given the due credit by the annual award committees in world football. Needless to say, Courtois has continued in the same form for his National team, Belgium as well. What a great keeper he is!