Courtois’ Chivalry Steals the Spotlight as Mourinho Praises Pure Sportmanship
1 February 2026
Courtois’ Gesture Shatters Expectations
The Belgian shot-stopper pushed the boundaries of sport’s etiquette as he saluted Benfica’s Anatolii Troubin in the dying seconds after Troubin conceded a late goal, helping Benfica reach the playoff for the Round of 16 in the Champions League. It wasn’t about glory for Courtois; it was a moment of class that transcended the scoreline.
Jose Mourinho, Benfica’s coach, praised the humane act, telling Marca that Courtois’ move was “beyond logic.” He even suggested the fair-play trophy might already have a winner, given the gesture that followed a rough night for Troubin. In Mourinho’s words, Courtois took a brief moment to celebrate a teammate’s resilience rather than bask in personal triumph.
“In that slice of time when we were all wrapped up in ourselves, it felt as if we were isolated from the world,” Mourinho said. “He’s a former player, the best goalkeeper in the world, and this act will enter Champions League history as one of the greats—no matter what happens next.”
Asked about the upcoming playoff against Madrid, Mourinho joked that the draw had pitted them with “the king,” a nod to Real Madrid’s storied status. He recalled a post-match shirt exchange where a Madrid player’s gift was mocked for the club’s 15 titles—“they are kings, in every sense of the word.”
“Real Madrid isn’t just history,” Mourinho added. “We will face the strongest title contender, but we must first focus on three upcoming Liga games—Tondela, Santa Clara, and Alverca—before turning attention to the Champions League.”
“Real Madrid is not just history,” he concluded. “We will play the favorites to win the tournament, but we have three league matches before that against Tondela, Santa Clara, and Alverca. That’s where our focus lies.”
Humor survive the night, and so did the moment. If gestures like Courtois’ could be bottled, the sport would probably cure a few bad moods and some stubborn losses.
