It is extremely rare for a goalkeeper to win the Ballon d’Or, much less be in the running. In fact, Lev Yashin is the only keeper to have won the award, and he is now the namesake of the annual award given to the best goalkeeper. Recently, only Gianluigi Buffon and Manuel Neuer – two of the GOATs – have been in the top three for the Ballon d’Or. So Real Madrid star Thibaut Courtois doesn’t seem to stand much of a chance of actually winning the award in 2022.
But he should absolutely be in the running, regardless of his position. It is true that goalkeepers cannot influence the match in as many ways as, say, Karim Benzema with his scoring, assisting, pressing, and other creative contributions. That said, you know Courtois impacts each game he plays in significantly when you watch him.
Here are three reasons why the newest Real Madrid star in goal deserves Ballon d’Or consideration after four more months of excellence in the 2021/22 season.
Thibaut Courtois has iconic moments
Distinct moments where a goalkeeper steps up for his team stand out the most in the minds of voters, just as iconic goals or bits of skill from attacking players can enhance their Ballon d’Or candidacy. And beyond just talking about keepers, I am not sure there is a single player whose had more incredible big-game highlights than Thibaut Courtois so far in 2022.
Look no further than the entire Champions League Round of 16 against PSG. There is no Remontada, nor heroic Karim Benzema hat trick, without Courtois’ stellar performance in the first leg. He was the reason they only lost 1-0, saving a penalty and making several other top-class saves.
Courtois had a streak of three consecutive penalty saves, with none being more impressive than his stop against Athletic Bilbao in the finals of the Spanish Supercup that is one of the best penalty stops in recent memory. If you thought that was amazing, then watch his save of an Iago Aspas free kick this past weekend at Balaidos.
Even when Real Madrid struggled badly, such as in a 4-0 loss to Barcelona, Courtois distinguished himself with big stops. Think about that. Even when his team was humiliated on the big stage, Courtois was a standout. Iconic.
His value to Real Madrid
Goal-scorers receive a lot of praise for racking up statistics and changing games with decisive strikes. But goalkeepers should get just as much praise for keeping a team in a match by both making astounding saves and avoiding mistakes. Thibaut Courtois has made a huge stop in seemingly every match this season, keeping the team in games almost single-handedly at times with either last-gasp saves or first-half stops that give Real Madrid a chance to come back.
Karim Benzema will be one of the Ballon d’Or frontrunners this year after being a finalist in 2021. With 34 goals and 12 assists this season for the Merengues, there’s no doubting Karim’s value and his ability to change matches with a goal or an assist.
But Courtois deserves just as much credit and has been arguably as valuable to Real Madrid as the No. 9. Benzema may have the edge because he can impact the game in more ways, but Courtois isn’t far behind at all. And since Courtois isn’t far behind and Karim is a Ballon d’Or frontrunner, then surely that means the Real Madrid goalkeeper is a candidate.
Courtois should not be overlooked because he is a goalkeeper. His quality, leadership, and overall importance to the team place him right there with the best of them. A player’s value to their team is one of the most important qualifiers to be a Ballon d’Or winner, and Courtois absolutely has that locked down. Just ask any Real Madrid fan what he means to this team.
The awards
Despite playing for a very attacking team that does not value a steady defensive structure under Carlo Ancelotti, Thibaut Courtois is in the running for the Zamora Trophy with 0.87 goals allowed per 90 minutes in LaLiga this season.
What matters more to the Ballon d’Or voters, though, is team success. Real Madrid are leading LaLiga despite all of their issues, especially their coaching problem, and they are in the quarterfinals of the Champions League. Courtois is a huge reason why Real have bested Barcelona, Sevilla, and Atletico Madrid in the league, and he is obviously a prime reason why they are still alive in the Champions League after that difficult battle with PSG.
Furthermore, Courtois was decisive in Real securing their lone trophy of the season so far, the Spanish Supercup.
Team success matters, and with LaLiga a likelihood and the Champions League still a possibility, Courtois can win the trophies he needs to be a candidate for the award. Mike Maignan and David Ospina, by the way, are the only other goalkeepers contending for a title who have BOTH a higher save percentage and a lower goals per 90 allowed average than Courtois.
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If Courtois can add the Zamora, that will only strengthen his case. Real Madrid are far from a perfect team. Everyone knows their flaws. That they are on their way to winning the league title and among the top teams in Europe in the Champions League is a huge credit to what Courtois has done. Team success and individual value go hand-in-hand, and despite the structural issues, Courtois’ individual numbers as a goalkeeper remain quite strong and among the best in Europe’s big five leagues.