Thibaut Courtois is still the “best” goalkeeper in world football, ex-Belgium international Philippe Albert has told GOAL, with the Real Madrid custodian considered to have fended off competition from the likes of David Raya, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Alisson. A standing at the very top of the global game has been enjoyed by Courtois for well over a decade.

Thibaut Courtois has shed light on the extraordinary depth of his fallout with the Belgian national team setup, detailing a departure from the squad's communication channels. The Real Madrid goalkeeper remains absent from the international scene as his public dispute with head coach Mark van Bommel shows no signs of a resolution.

What is going on inside the Special One's head?

The Belgian goalkeeper enters the eagerly awaited match with great confidence.

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has offered his full support to teammate Kylian Mbappe in the race for the Ballon d'Or, claiming the Frenchman stands alone as the world's best individual performer. The Belgian shot-stopper also took the opportunity to question the consistency of the voting process, suggesting that the criteria for football's most prestigious individual prize remain confusing for players and fans alike.