Courtois missed much of last season with two knee injuries and was left out of Belgium’s Euro 2024 squad, despite returning to fitness and starting in the Champions League final for Madrid.

The 32-year-old, who has won 102 caps, had a falling out with Tedesco in June 2023 after leaving the Belgium squad before their Euro 2024 qualifier with Estonia.

“Unfortunately, following the events with the coach and after much reflection, I have decided not to return to the Belgian national team under his management,” former Chelsea and Atletico Madrid keeper Courtois wrote on Instagram.

“In this matter, I accept my share of responsibility. However, looking forward, my lack of confidence in him would not contribute to maintaining the necessary atmosphere of cordiality.

“The [Belgium] federation, with whom I have had several discussions, accepts my position and the reasons that led me to this painful but coherent decision.

“I regret possibly disappointing some fans, but I am convinced that this is the best course of action for Belgium, as it closes a debate and allows the team to focus on pursuing its goals.”

The Red Devils were knocked out of Euro 2024 by France in the last 16, with Al-Qadsiah goalkeeper Koen Casteels starting all four of their games.

Courtois walked out on the Belgium squad last June when he was not named captain in the wake of Eden Hazard’s retirement, leading to a public falling out with coach Domenico Tedesco.

The 32-year-old was criticised by teammates and has since expressed regret.

Coutois has been sidelined for much of the season after suffering two serious knee injuries. He returned against Cádiz in LaLiga on May 4, before sitting out Madrid’s Champions League semifinal second leg against Bayern Munich. He has since kept clean sheets against Granada, Alavés and Real Betis.

Sources have told ESPN that the club believes that, if he is physically fit, there is no debate that he will start in the Champions League final.

“Courtois was very clear and honest and early in his communication. The latest information we received is that he is not ready for the European Championship. He knows his body best,” Tedesco said at a news conference on Tuesday.

Despite rules permitting coaches to take a 26-man squad to the tournament, Tedesco decided to name only 25 players in the group he will take to Germany.

Tuesday’s squad did feature a recall for Axel Witsel who had announced his international retirement last year. His return comes after Tedesco visited Atlético Madrid to persuade the midfielder to come back to the team.

The 35-year-old won the last of his 130 caps at the World Cup in Qatar, where Belgium were eliminated in the group stage.

“I have had Axel in my mind for a long time, even during the qualification,” Tedesco said. “It’s about quality, Witsel offers a lot of quality.

“He is a key player at Atlético Madrid. I met him, wanted to see him, look into his eyes. We need him, he has experience and can help the young players. Experience in that position is important. We are playing a European Championship, that is no small thing.”

Former Ajax and Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen, who has earned 154 caps for his country, has been included in the squad at the age of 37. The squad also includes top scorer Romelu Lukaku, who has netted 83 times in 114 appearances for his country.

Belgium squad:

Goalkeepers: Koen Casteels (VfL Wolfsburg), Thomas Kaminski (Luton Town), Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest)

Defenders: Timothy Castagne (Fulham), Maxim De Cuyper (Club Brugge), Zeno Debast (Anderlecht), Wout Faes (Leicester City), Thomas Meunier (Trabzonspor), Jan Vertonghen (Anderlecht), Arthur Theate (Stade Rennais), Axel Witsel (Atlético Madrid)

Midfielders: Yannick Carrasco (Al Shabab), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Orel Mangala (Lyon), Amadou Onana (Everton), Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa), Arthur Vermeeren (Atlético Madrid), Aster Vranckx (vfL Wolfsburg)

Forwards: Johan Bakayoko (PSV Eindhoven), Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta), Jeremy Doku (Manchester City), Romelu Lukaku (Roma), Dodi Lukebakio (Sevilla), Lois Openda (RB Leipzig), Leandro Trossard (Arsenal).

Courtois, 31, has missed the entire season and needed another operation on his knee in March when he had a setback.

He might return for Real Madrid before the end of the campaign but Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco has ruled him out of Euro 2024 selection.

Courtois, who has 102 caps for Belgium, said in December he would not recover fully to play at the tournament held in Germany this June and July.

“On this topic, everything has already been said. I don’t want a tit-for-tat situation,” Tedesco told German media on Tuesday.

“We are focusing on players who are in good shape.”

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has said he hopes to have Courtois back for Saturday’s La Liga game against Cadiz.

The Belgium international, 31, has had surgery after tearing the meniscus in his right knee in training.

He ruptured the ACL in his left knee in August and has not played this season.

No timescale has been put on a return, with Real saying a recovery programme will begin “in the next few days”.

Courtois, who has made 230 appearances for Real since joining from Chelsea in 2018, only resumed training after his ACL injury last month.

Real signed Spain international Kepa Arrizabalaga on a season-long loan from Chelsea as cover for Courtois, though he has recently lost his place to Ukraine goalkeeper Andriy Lunin.

Martinez shone at the World Cup, playing a starring role in the penalty shootout as his country defeated France.

He also, however, courted controversy by making an obscene gesture during the trophy ceremony when he received his prize for the best goalkeeper at the tournament.

Bounou featured for a defensively mean Morocco as they became the first African country to reach the semifinals of a World Cup.

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Belgium may had endured a poor World Cup where they were eliminated in the group stage but Courtois had already been one of the architects of Real Madrid’s 14th Champions League triumph.

In the women’s category, the three goalkeepers nominated were Germany’s Ann-Katrin Berger, Mary Earps of England and Chile’s Christiane Endler.

The finalists for the best male and female player awards, as well as the Puskas award for the best goal, will be announced on Friday.

Nominees for best coach will be revealed on Thursday.

The Fifa awards ceremony will take place in Paris on 27 February.

Courtois is just the third recipient of the award, which was first handed out in 2019, after Alisson Becker and Gianluigi Donnarumma.

“I want to thank my team-mates at Real Madrid,” Courtois said when collecting the award.

“To be part of this team, last year was amazing, for me especially. I’m proud to win this trophy with all the amazing goalkeepers there.

“I want to thank my family as well, it’s easy when things go well but harder when things don’t go so well, and they’re the first to pick you up.”

Courtois added that the World Cup trophy was next on his wishlist, with Belgium in Group F along with Croatia, Canada and Morocco.

The Belgian has been rewarded for a fine campaign which was capped off by winning the player of the match award in the Champions League final against Liverpool.

Courtois kept Liverpool at bay to inspire Real Madrid to a 1-0 win in Paris, denying Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah with world-class saves in a match decided by Vinicius Jr’s second-half winner.

The former Chelsea goalkeeper made nine saves overall, the most on record (since 2003-04) in a Champions League final, sealing a 22th clean sheet of the season in style.

He said after the final: “Today I needed to win a final for my career, for all the hard work to put respect on my name as I don’t think I get enough respect, especially in England. I saw a lot of criticism even after a great season.”

Sixteen clean sheets in La Liga had helped Real Madrid win the league title by 13 points ahead of Barcelona.

Courtois was also the highest-ranked goalkeeper in the Ballon d’Or shortlist, finishing in seventh.

The 30-year-old was one of just two ‘keepers nominated in the 30-man shortlist for France Football’s coveted prize, along with AC Milan’s Mike Maignan.

Earlier on Monday it was confirmed Maignan finished joint 25th.

YASHIN TROPHY RANKINGS

• 10. Hugo Lloris (Tottenham)
• 9. Yassine Bounou (Sevilla)
• 8. Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid)
• 7. Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich)
• 6. Kevin Trapp (Eintracht Frankfurt)
• 5. Mike Maignan (AC Milan)
• 4. Edouard Mendy (Chelsea)
• 3. Ederson (Manchester City)
• 2. Alisson (Liverpool)
• 1. Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid)