Thibaut Courtois and Kevin De Bruyne didn't acknowledge each other after Belgium's win over Senegal on June 29th.
What happened?
The tension between the two players traces back to a relationship that ended over ten years ago.
De Bruyne dated Caroline Lijnen from 2010 to 2013.
Lijnen later became involved with Courtois in 2013, while he was on loan at Atlético Madrid.
Why it matters for Thibaut Courtois
The situation became public knowledge in 2014, when De Bruyne referenced it in his autobiography.
Then-Belgium manager Marc Wilmots asked De Bruyne if he wanted Courtois removed from the squad.
De Bruyne said no, reportedly telling Wilmots, “He’s a good goalkeeper, he should stay for the team.”
What comes next?
Belgium face off against the United States on Monday, July 6th at 5 pm PT.
The winner will face off against Spain on Friday, July 10th at 12 pm PT.
Courtois and De Bruyne have continued to line up together for Belgium despite the tension.
Courtois offered De Bruyne praise on the *Rio Ferdinand Presents* podcast in 2025.
De Bruyne and Courtois have both moved on in their personal lives.
De Bruyne married Michèle Lacroix in 2017, and the couple now has three children.
Courtois married model Mishel Gerzig in 2023.
The tension between De Bruyne and Courtois is still visible, as seen after the Senegal match.
Belgium's match against the USA will be a crucial test for the team's unity.
And the team's performance will be closely watched by fans and critics alike.
But for now, the focus is on the upcoming match against the USA.
So the question on everyone's mind is: can Belgium overcome their internal issues and win the match?
The answer will have to wait until July 6th.
For now, the tension between De Bruyne and Courtois remains a major talking point.
And it will be interesting to see how it affects the team's performance in the World Cup.
The match against the USA is just the beginning of Belgium's World Cup journey.
And the team will need to put their differences aside if they want to succeed.
The world will be watching on July 6th to see how it all plays out.