Featured Image Credit: Alamy/Instagrm - thibautcourtois
Topics: Thibaut Courtois, Real Madrid, Champions League, Liverpool
Jack Kenmare
Topics: Thibaut Courtois, Real Madrid, Champions League, Liverpool
Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has decided to celebrate his Champions League final heroics against Liverpool by getting a brick wall tattoo on his arm.
The 30-year-old Belgium international delivered one of the all-time great performances in last month's showpiece event in Paris.
He made a record-breaking nine saves at the Stade de France, including one of the best saves of the season to deny Mohamed Salah late on. How good was this?
Vinicius Jr sealed a historic win for the Spanish champions with a 59th minute strike, but it was Courtois' heroics that kept Carlo Ancelotti's side in the game.
Los Blancos lifted the trophy for a record 14th time and Courtois, who made 33% of his saves during the 2021/22 season in the Champions League, proceeded to tell fans to "put respect" on his name.
Advert
During an emotional post-match interview, the former Chelsea goalkeeper 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."
Almost a month after the final in Paris and Courtois has decided to honour his outing against Jurgen Klopp's side by getting a tattoo on his arm.
The former Atletico Madrid loanee unveiled an image of his new ink with the caption: "Thank you @attooboutiquelarissa for the amazing work!"
Advert
The tattoo artist also commented on the piece, saying: "For the ONE and only Champ! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to place this beautiful memo."
In the aftermath of last month's final, Jurgen Klopp claimed "something is going wrong for the other team" when a goalkeeper wins the Man of the Match award.
"They scored a goal, we didn’t, that’s the easiest explanation in the world of football and it’s hard, harsh to get anyway, [but we] respect that of course," he said in his post-match press conference.
Advert
"When the goalkeeper is Man of the Match then something is going wrong for the other team, so we had I think three really big chances where Courtois made incredible saves. I would have loved to have had a few more of this calibre.”
Klopp continued: “I think Madrid had one shot on target, is that right? And that was a goal. But, look, I understand 100 per cent and I respect 100 per cent the reason for playing football and having these kinds of competitions is to win the game, and whatever you do – as long as it’s in the rules – it’s allowed and you can do it. It’s completely fine.
"We had to defend as well in moments, just that we blocked the shots or whatever. We played a good game, but when you lose 1-0 you have to admit it was then not good enough.”
Advert