Vandevoordt rejects comparisons with Courtois ahead of their reunion

“Any comparison is impossible,” Vandevoordt says of Courtois. The Leipzig goalkeeper, long measured against his senior, now comes face to face with him at the Bernabéu. He made his Belgium debut during the September break after the Real Madrid goalkeeper stepped away from the national team; that first appearance ended in a 4-1 defeat to France.

The comparisons began early. “Courtois had just left when I arrived at Genk at nine. That meant people automatically compared me with Thibaut. I take it as a great compliment, but any comparison is impossible,” Vandevoordt explained. He added that Courtois was a world-class goalkeeper and that he still had a long way to go. He watched Courtois’s matches and videos, but also described the pressure: after a mistake or a poor performance, the media could question him. At 15, he said, he had handled the comparisons fairly well, despite their downside.

The goalkeeper has also spoken about spending time in Péter Gulácsi’s shadow. Transferred to Leipzig in 2024 after two seasons as understudy, he said he learned a great deal from his teammate, including patience. “He often told me my time would come. […] I worked hard over the last two years to get this opportunity,” he said, while acknowledging that waiting behind a club legend had not been easy.

Vandevoordt says he can handle the pressure: “A goalkeeper can’t hide. You’re alone in goal. I know how to handle that pressure, and I even enjoy it.” He also recalled that after a 3-1 defeat to Werder Bremen, the three goals he conceded stayed on his mind despite his saves.

The meeting with Courtois comes against the backdrop of a succession story discussed in Belgium. The Leipzig goalkeeper, formerly of Genk, grew up with the comparisons; Courtois even gave him his blessing during the World Cup. “It’s a pleasure to train with Thibaut in the national team,” Vandevoordt said, describing him as one of the best in the world. Courtois has also suggested giving young goalkeepers their chance, naming Senne Lammens, Mike Penders and Maarten Vandevoordt. But against Madrid tonight, Vandevoordt warns: “There will be no friends.”