Real Madrid surprised many this week with their 3-0 masterclass victory over Manchester City in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 clash. At times Los Blancos ran circles around the Premier League side with incredible performances from the likes of Fede Valverde, Thibaut Courtois, and 18-year-old midfielder Thiago Pitarch. While understandably Valverde's hat-trick is catching the headlines, Courtois had a history making performance himself on two different fronts.
As pointed out by 2010MisterChip on X (via MadridXtra) Thibaut Courtois became the first goalkeeper in history to have two assists in the Champions League in the same season. In addition, via OptaJose on X (via MadridXtra) Courtois is now the goalkeeper with the most assists in the history of the competition with three, passing Jose Francisco Molina and Oliver Kahn, each of which had two.
History made by Courtois
The Belgian has proven time and time again just how important he is to Real Madrid. Courtois has already established himself as a legend at Los Blancos and keeps adding to his resume that he belong in the conversation for greatest goalkeeper of all time. His trophies speak for themselves but with Courtois now grabbing records like this, and his legacy keps growing eith every match he plays.
Courtois' first assist this Champions League campaign came during Real's 5-0 route against Kairat back in September assisting the first goal of Kylian Mbappe's hat-trick. Fast forward to March and the Belgian grabs his second, assisting Valverde's first goal in similar fashion. In a fun little jab towards rivals Barcelona, Courtois has more assists , and only one less goal contribution in the Champions League this season than Raphinha, the man Barca fans have dubbed "Mr Champions League".
While Valverde's hat-trick solidified the victory, Courtois as usual made a number of world class saves, keeping City out of the goal, playing an underrated, yet huge part in Real heading into Manchester with a favorable lead.
Att 33-years-old Courtois is still young for a goalkeeper so he will no doubt still be around for the long haul, a sight that will make all fans smile from cheek to cheek. The Belgian got off to a rough start to life at the Bernabeu after his arrival in 2018, but since then he has stamped his name as one of if not the best keeper to ever player for Real Madrid, and has carried on the incredible goalkeeping legacy left by Iker Casillas and Kaylor Navas before him.