The Belgian international goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said he expects to play football for a few more years, but is already preparing the future with the creation of an investment platform.
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10/11/2026
by
Lusa
O belgian international goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois still hopes to play football “for another five years”, but said today, during the Web Summit, that he is preparing the future by founding an investment platform.
“Three years ago, I broke my anterior cruciate ligament. We never know how we're gonna get back, and it made me wonder what's next. There are businesses in which we want to be a part, where they help the player and the companies themselves grow. I hope to play for about five more years, but it is important to create business and partnerships with various companies and we can grow together,” he said at the technological summit.
Presently representing the Spanish from Real Madrid, in which he is guided by Portuguese coach José Mourinho and is a colleague of Bernardo Silva, Courtois spoke at a press conference, after being on the main stage of Web Summit.
“ It is harder to build a ‘startup’ [than to win the Champions League]. On the right team, it's easier to win. I have a lot of respect for the ‘startups’ that later become big companies”, he said, adding being “very happy” for being able to work with the two Portuguese, without stretching on this subject.
The NXTPLAY platform was the only focus that brought Thibaut Courtois to Lisbon, at a time when he is away from the Belgian selection for this edition of the League of Nations, already investing in the French of Le Mans or the Belgians of Genk.
“ It was amazing to be able to invest in the Genk [club where Courtois was formed]. The goal is to keep growing and see what Club Brugge is doing for the last few years in the Champions League. It's the following model in Belgium. We're focused on training. Kevin de Bruyne and I started there, we became champions and we want to fight for the championship in a more consistent way,” said the 34-year-old goalkeeper.
Another edition of the Web Summit started on Monday in Lisbon, with one of the largest technological summits to be concluded next Thursday.
The first Web Summit in the Portuguese capital took place in 2016 and the event is guaranteed until 2028.