MONTERREY, June 30, 2026. Cody Gakpo knelt on the turf, his face buried in his hands, as the weight of the past few days poured out in a moment of raw emotion. The Liverpool forward had just scored for the Netherlands against Morocco, but this was no ordinary celebration. It was a tribute.
Gakpo was reduced to tears after netting the opener in Monday’s last 32 tie, just days after revealing that he and his partner Noa van der Bij had suffered a miscarriage. The couple, who had announced at the end of May that they were expecting their second child, shared the devastating news over the weekend that their baby boy, named Elijah, had passed away during the pregnancy.
Van der Bij, who was in the stands to support Gakpo at the World Cup, wrote on Instagram: “With broken hearts, we share the devastating news that our baby boy passed away during pregnancy. Thank you for your love and support. Elijah Raphael Gakpo. Forever loved. Forever our son.”
She spoke of a poignant moment after visiting a church to light a candle, later walking with their son Samuel to a church playground. “There was only one other child there. His name was Elijah. There could not have been a more beautiful sign from God. He reminded us that our little boy is never far away.”
A goal laden with meaning
Gakpo’s strike, which arrived late in the second half, was his third of this tournament and sixth in his World Cup career. It moved him to second in the Netherlands’ all time World Cup scoring list, one behind Johnny Rep, who netted seven goals across the 1974 and 1978 tournaments. But statistics felt secondary in that moment.
As the ball found the net, Gakpo immediately welled up, sinking to his knees as teammates rushed to console him. He raised his arms to the sky, a gesture of remembrance for the son he and Van der Bij had lost. The emotion of the moment reverberated around the stadium, a stark reminder that even on football’s biggest stage, personal grief does not pause for competition.
Resilience amid tragedy
Gakpo has been instrumental for the Netherlands at this summer’s tournament. As well as Monday’s winner, he scored twice and registered an assist in their 5-1 demolition of Sweden. His ability to perform at such a high level while processing unimaginable loss speaks to his character and professionalism.
The Netherlands or Morocco will face Canada in the last 16 in Houston on Saturday. For Gakpo, the tournament continues, but the memory of Elijah will remain with him every step of the way.
Reporting by Azuka for Betandsured.com
