Thibaut Courtois had been the picture of consistency this Champions League season. He played every single minute of Real Madrid’s 2025-26 European campaign, which made what happened on March 17 feel particularly cruel.

The Belgian goalkeeper suffered a muscle tear in the rectus femoris of his right quadriceps during the second leg of Real Madrid’s round-of-16 tie against Manchester City. He made it to halftime before being substituted, with Madrid going on to win 2-1 and advance.

Real Madrid confirmed the diagnosis on March 19, putting the recovery timeline at approximately six weeks.

What he’s going to miss

Courtois is expected to miss up to seven matches across all competitions during his absence, with the Bayern Munich quarterfinals sitting at the top of the list.

The target for his return is late April or early May 2026. The club is quietly optimistic that he could be back in time for the Champions League semifinals and El Clásico.

A worrying injury history

In August 2023, Courtois tore his ACL, a significant, season-ending injury that kept him sidelined for months. Then in March 2024, he suffered a meniscus tear. Now, in March 2026, it’s the rectus femoris of the right quadriceps.

Three significant injuries in under three years.

What this means for Real Madrid’s season

With Courtois sidelined, the burden falls on Andriy Lunin. The Bayern Munich quarterfinals are the immediate problem, with El Clásico adding another layer beyond that.

Courtois will turn 34 in May 2026. He remains elite when fit, but the frequency of his physical setbacks suggests that Madrid may need to reconsider its contingency planning at goalkeeper more seriously than it has in recent transfer windows.