Thibaut Courtois Drops One Of The All-Time Great Goalkeeping Performances In UCL Final

We have just witnessed one of the greatest goalkeeping performances of all time.

In what was a tight contest at the Stade de France on Saturday night, Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was ultimately the difference-maker, making nine saves against Liverpool to help Los Blancos win the trophy for a record 14th time.

A 59th minute strike from Brazilian forward Vinicius Jr sealed a historic win for the Spanish side, who have defied the odds on numerous occasions throughout this season's competition, but it was Courtois' heroics that kept Carlo Ancelotti's side in the game.

REAL MADRID LEAD! 🔥

Vinícius Júnior steals in at the back post to tap home from close range ⚽️#UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/owgAzrA75V

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 28, 2022

From pivotal first-half saves to deny Sadio Mane, to pulling off one of the best saves of the season against Mohamed Salah late on – the Belgian made Champions League final history with this quite magnificent stat.

Is he the best goalkeeper in the world right now? It's hard to argue that statement at this stage.

9 - Thibaut Courtois' nine saves tonight is the most on record (since 2003-04) of any keeper in a single #UCLfinal. Impenetrable. #LIVRMA pic.twitter.com/zIKhl5zaXT

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 28, 2022

Here's a couple of Courtois' best saves from Saturday's final against Liverpool. Enjoy.

Thibaut Courtois with an outrageous save to deny Sadio Mané! 🤯#UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/RjMFEVyra9

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 28, 2022

Thibaut Courtois. Unreal. 🤯#UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/Ssi4NY0gHu

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 28, 2022

Thibaut Courtois has been phenomenal tonight! ⛔️#UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/ewCtCivQEQ

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 28, 2022

Stop it, Thibaut Courtois! 🥵

Joke of a save! #UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/3KunsBBN9G

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 28, 2022

Ahead of kick-off, a confident Courtois, who has made 33% of his saves this season in Real Madrid's magnificent Champions League campaign, sent a warning to favourites Liverpool.

"They’ve already played one final against Madrid in 2018. It was different for me," he said. "Real Madrid, when they play a final, they win it, and so now I’m on the right side of history."

And after the full-time whistle, Courtois wants fans to "put respect" on his name after his Man of the Match performance.

He said: "Today I needed to win a final for my career, for all the hard work, to put some respect on my name, because I don't think I get enough respect. Especially in England."

"Today I needed to win a final for my career, for all the hard work, to put some respect on my name, because I don't think I get enough respect. Especially in England." 🤐

Put respect on Thibaut Courtois' name 👊

🎙 @TheDesKelly | #UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/YHhlO5lELZ

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 28, 2022

Here's how social media reacted to his heroics.

Thibaut Courtois made 𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐄 saves against Liverpool tonight.

The most on record by a goalkeeper in a single Champions League final since 2004 🤯

(via @OptaJoe)#UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/9xOGCtUDfl

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 28, 2022

One thing that's clear from Benzema's comments before the game and Courtois' afterwards is Real had a proper siege mentality, as if everyone was disrespecting them and suggesting Liverpool had already won. Even if imagined, it worked

— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) May 28, 2022

Courtois has set the record of most saves ever by any goalkeeper during a Champions League campaign. Think he accrued 50% of that from just tonight. Monumental.

— Xav Salazar (@XavsFutbol) May 28, 2022

Man of the match 👏🏼 @thibautcourtois pic.twitter.com/34tIoHQoWw

— Kerry Hau (@kerry_hau) May 28, 2022

Thibaut Courtois' mood when he woke up this morning 🇧🇪 👏 pic.twitter.com/qPJK2lgRA8

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) May 28, 2022

Thoughts on Courtois' performance against Liverpool?

Let us know in the comments,