Real Madrid is the best team in the world. They are both historically and presently the biggest team on a global front. Don't believe us? Let the Champions League, the biggest cup competition in the world, do the talking. Real Madrid has won far more than any other team.
And now, it's a new era. Gone are the days of Cristiano Ronaldo, gone are the days of Zinedine Zidane and gone are the days of Raul. While those eras will always be held in high regard by Real Madrid fans, and those club legends will always be respected, new heroes are writing their own chapters.
Thibaut Courtois is already a Real Madrid legend. He has an Atleti past, which we will forgive him for, but he became the best goalkeeper in the world at the only Madrid club that counts.
Real Madrid quietly has the world's best player (but you'd never know)
Right now, calling Thibaut Courtois the best goalkeeper in the world will be met with backlash. Alisson of Liverpool seems to have that title, and understandably so.
However, why is putting Courtois up there with the world's best so controversial? It really shouldn't be, but we're starting to see why now.
In a statistic provided by Squawka, Thibaut Courtois doesn't even make the top 10 for saves made in the first three games. This isn't a bad reflection on Courtois, but instead, it's a great reflection on Xabi Alonso's newfound Real Madrid defense.
Aaron Escandell has made at least 10 more saves than any other GK in LaLiga so far this season.
— Squawka (@Squawka) September 3, 2025
He kept his first clean sheet of 2025/26 against Real Sociedad at the weekend. 🧤 pic.twitter.com/beIOCdlrrO
In the past, Courtois was a busy beaver. He had to dive all over the place to make saves, and his shot-stopping was seriously at the forefront. It was back then that he was seen as the best goalkeeper in the world, for good reason.
Now, though, Real Madrid fans should expect to see less of Courtois. This is, obviously, a good thing. Real Madrid is likely to face less shots from the opposition than the past few seasons, as the defense is much stronger.
Courtois is still the player he's always been. Whenever Real Madrid needs him to step up, he will be there. However, he'll just be far less busy, which again, is great.
Who knows? By the time this season is finished, he may become a chess grandmaster or skilled in the art of origami.
With plenty of time to kill between the sticks, while the wall in front of him does all the protection, the sky is the limit for Real Madrid's Belgian.