Netherlands' Cody Gakpo points to the sky after scoring against Morocco in the World Cup Round of 32 match on June 29, 2026
| Photo Credit: Reuters
The outpouring of emotion from Cody Gakpo after he scored for the Netherlands against Morocco at the World Cup on Monday (June 29, 2026) showed that while the tournament captivates billions around the world, the game does not transcend personal tragedy.Gakpo and his partner, Noa van der Bij, lost their unborn baby boy several months into the pregnancy last week, and when the striker scored the opening goal in the round-of-32 tie against Morocco, he fell in a heap on the ground and burst into tears.It was a moving moment for all in the stadium, with his Dutch teammates’ delight at going ahead in the game tempered by an immediate understanding of Gakpo’s grief, and their gestures of concern showed their empathy.Captain Virgil van Dijk had expressed as much on the eve of the game when he told reporters: “It’s awful news, and it shows that football is secondary. There are more important things in life.”
Netherlands' Cody Gakpo is surrounded by teammates after scoring their first goal against Morocco in the Round of 32
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