3. Thibaut Courtois
When Real Madrid signed a player, who once played for cross-town rivals Atletico Madrid, and who also became the basis for Keylor Navas’ benching, there was a lot of eyebrows raised. Courtois struggled during the first several months of his career at Santiago Bernabeu.
The last season, on the other hand, made sense in every way and paid off all the struggles. With spectacular performances week in and week out throughout the season, he was able to win over the fans and silence the naysayers. Courtois’ tale at Los Blancos has been a wonderful one, and it is still in its preliminary chapters.
The Belgian became one of Real Madrid’s most notable players in the 2021–2022 season, and he also almost single-handedly held the entire Liverpool squad at bay in the Champions League final, putting in an all-time performance.
His saves, blocks, and dives were just as crucial as the team’s goals and assists. The goalkeeper provided imposing leadership for the back line, which frequently felt vulnerable in his absence.
Courtois was unquestionably the finest goalkeeper in the world last season, with a long list of clean sheets and some impressive silverware, and there is no apparent candidate to challenge him for the Yashin trophy or a high position on the Ballon d’Or list. Though he is unlikely to win, a top-five finish is not out of the question. A top-ten finish is almost certain.