Belgium's World Cup Hopes End After Courtois Injury and Late Goal Against Spain

Belgium's 2026 World Cup campaign ended in heartbreak on Friday night with a 2-1 quarterfinal loss to Spain. The defining moment came when Belgium's star goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, widely regarded as one of the best in the world and a symbol of Belgium's golden generation, was forced off the field in tears due to a leg injury. Courtois suffered the injury in the 71st minute after gripping a muscle in his leg and informed the bench he could not continue. He was replaced by 24-year-old Manchester United goalkeeper Senna Lammens, making his World Cup debut under intense pressure.

Shortly before the final whistle, in the 88th minute, Spain's Pau Cubarsí took a shot from outside the box that Lammens initially saved but then fumbled, allowing substitute Mikel Merino to score the winning goal. Lammens appeared devastated after the mistake, while Courtois watched from the sidelines visibly upset. At 34 years old, this may have been Courtois's last World Cup appearance, having participated in four tournaments.

After the match, Courtois stood by Lammens, expressing support and understanding for the coach's decision to substitute him due to the injury. He praised Lammens as an excellent goalkeeper and encouraged him to recover and have a great season with Manchester United. Defender Brandon Mechele also defended Lammens, calling the moment a learning experience and emphasizing team support.

However, former football star Zlatan Ibrahimović publicly criticized Belgium's coaching staff, particularly head coach Rudy Garcia, questioning the decision to replace Courtois with Lammens instead of using backup goalkeeper Mike Maendres, who was on the bench. In contrast, former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel expressed sympathy for Lammens, acknowledging the difficulty of the save under pressure and predicting better days ahead for the young keeper.