Courtois: Bellingham will lead Real Madrid and England to trophies

Thibaut Courtois has predicted that his Real Madrid team-mate Jude Bellingham will lead both his club and his country to many titles in the coming years.

Bellingham, who helped England win a bronze medal at the World Cup in North America, their best finish on foreign soil, has enjoyed a successful 2026, also rediscovering his form at club level under head coach Jose Mourinho.

The England star, who scored seven goals at the World Cup, has five goals and five assists this season for a Madrid side sitting just two points behind leaders Barcelona in LaLiga.

The 2025-26 campaign had been a deeply disappointing one for Bellingham and his team-mates, as Madrid ended a second successive season without a major trophy (LaLiga, the Copa del Rey or the Champions League).

Speaking at an event in Lisbon, Courtois, who has opted not to feature in Belgium's Nations League matches this week, said Bellingham was back at his peak.

The Belgian goalkeeper said of the Englishman: "He is incredibly important for us. I value Jude enormously. First of all, he is a great person and a very good friend. Secondly, he is an absolutely outstanding footballer. His first season at Madrid was tremendous. Last year, though, as a team we fell a little short of the quality we have."

Bellingham, who was recently named England's men's player of the year for 2026, is expected to lead the way in ending England's long-running trophy drought, with his country one of the four nations that will host Euro 2028.

Courtois concluded: "I think Jude had a great World Cup. From the matches I watched, he was probably England's best player. He has managed to maintain that level. He is very strong on the ball, he makes the difference with his runs off the ball and his defensive work, and he is still very young. By the day he retires, I am sure he will have won many more trophies at Real Madrid and, hopefully, with England. Although hopefully not at this European Championship, because I want Belgium to win it! But if they do win it, I would be very happy for Jude too. He is a great player."

England will face Croatia and Spain in their final Nations League group-stage matches, while Belgium take on Türkiye and Italy.