Real Madrid’s star goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, is likely to miss Belgium’s crucial World Cup qualifiers due to a muscle injury. The 33-year-old sustained damage to the long abductor muscle in his right leg, as confirmed by Real Madrid in a statement on Monday. While the club did not provide a specific timeline for his recovery, they indicated that his progress would be closely monitored. This setback comes as a significant blow to Belgium’s national team, which is already grappling with the absence of midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, who is sidelined for several months with a severe thigh injury. Belgium currently leads Group J in the qualifiers, ahead of North Macedonia and Wales. Their upcoming matches include a clash with Kazakhstan in Astana on Saturday, followed by a home game against Liechtenstein in Liège on November 18. A victory against Kazakhstan would secure Belgium’s direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup in the United States. Courtois’ return to the national team in March marked the end of a 21-month hiatus, following a highly publicized fallout with former coach Domenico Tedesco in June 2023. Their dispute, dubbed ‘Courtoisgate,’ stemmed from a captaincy disagreement and led to a fractured relationship. The appointment of Rudi Garcia as the new coach this year facilitated Courtois’ comeback. The veteran goalkeeper has earned 107 caps for Belgium, making his absence a notable challenge for the team.