INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois left his team’s World Cup quarterfinal match against Spain in the second half with an apparent injury Friday.
Courtois was in tears on the Belgium sideline after he was replaced by Senne Lammens in the 71st minute of a 1-1 match. Courtois made four saves before leaving.
The longtime Real Madrid keeper went down to the grass with what appeared to be a thigh injury four minutes before his substitution, and he received treatment during the hydration break. The injury didn’t improve enough for Courtois to continue, and Belgium replaced him with Lammens, the Manchester United keeper who had not yet played at the World Cup.
Courtois was appearing in his 21st World Cup match, the second-most in tournament history for goalkeepers behind Germany’s Manuel Neuer.
Courtois made 10 saves and allowed five goals in Belgium’s first five matches at this year’s World Cup.
Fabián Ruiz scored in the 30th minute for Spain, but Belgium forward Charles De Ketelaere scored the first goal allowed by Spain in the entire World Cup in the 41st minute.