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Who is Thibaut Courtois, the MVP of the Champions League final? Goals, highlights, plays

Real Madrid’s 1-0 win over Liverpool to win the Champions League can be attributed in large part to the world-class skills of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

Gidget Alikpala
Real Madrid’s 1-0 win over Liverpool to win the Champions League can be attributed in large part to the world-class skills of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
PhotonewsGetty

Vinicius Junior scored the goal that put Real Madrid on the board to win over Liverpool 1-0 in the Champions League final, but the night truly belonged to Thibaut Courtois, whose masterful performance ensured the victory.

Karim Benzema got Madrid’s hope up in the first half with a strike that was later ruled to be offside, but Vinicius made up for it with the only goal of the night on the hour mark. That goal was necessary for the victory, but it would not have been enough if not for Courtois, who unquestionably deserved to be declared Man of the Match.

Courtois foils Liverpool

Liverpool launched more well-aimed shots than Real, and they were consistently frustrated by the Belgian’s talents. He logged nine saves during the evening, the biggest by any keeper in a Champions League final since the 2003-04 season.

Particularly disheartening for the Reds were Courtois’ blocks of the shot by Sadio Mane in the first half and Mohamed Salad’s attempt in the second.

Who is 2022 Champions League MVP Thibaut Courtois?

Courtois’ heroics in the Champions League final certainly cemented his reputation as one of the best goalkeepers in the world.

His experience in this position goes back a long way, playing as a goalie at the tender age of seven. He developed his soccer skills in the youth system of Genk, where he contributed to the team’s win at the Belgian Pro League.

The 30-year-old joined Chelsea in 2011, but was loaned shortly thereafter to Atlético Madrid. He made significant contributions to the team in his three seasons with them, winning the Ricardo Zamora trophy for best goalkeeper.

He went back to play with Chelsea in 2014 but eventually left under strained circumstances. Courtois then landed a $37.5 million contract with Real Madrid in 2018, making him La Lisa’s highest-paid goalkeeper.

Courtois recently told BT Sport that he thought he wasn’t getting enough respect, particularly in England, and that he received criticism saying that he was not good enough.

His crucial role in winning the Champions League final and being declared the clear Man of the Match should put questions regarding his abilities to rest.