Gakpo scores – Cody Gakpo scored for the Netherlands against Morocco in the World Cup round of 32 in Monterrey, then was immediately overwhelmed by the death of his unborn baby son—news he and partner Noa van der Bij shared hours after the match.
The 72nd minute was supposed to be a release for the Netherlands in their World Cup round of 32 against Morocco in Monterrey. Cody Gakpo’s finish put his team ahead. Instead, it landed inside a moment of grief.
After scoring, Gakpo was immediately overcome by emotion. The Netherlands forward had been on the ground after finishing a pass from Crysencio Summerville, striking just before he was tackled by a Morocco player. When he got back up, tears on his face were visible.
The reason was not just the pressure of knockout football. Earlier that day, Gakpo and his partner, Noa van der Bij, announced that their unborn son had died during pregnancy. Their announcement came Saturday. with the loss still fresh on Gakpo’s mind as he tried to process what had just happened in his personal life—and what had just happened on the field.
After putting the ball in the net, Gakpo put his head in the turf. It was a brief, private gesture that quickly became public through the way he looked and the way he carried himself. The image of a player sobbing in the aftermath of a goal drew attention within seconds.
Support arrived just as quickly. In a spontaneous show of solidarity, the entire Dutch team came onto the field to crowd around Gakpo. In a game measured by minutes and momentum. the team’s circle around him turned the match into something else—an acknowledgment that sport doesn’t pause for the hard parts of life.
Gakpo and van der Bij had welcomed their first child, Samuël, in 2025. They had announced they were expecting a second baby just weeks before the 2026 World Cup, making the heartbreak land even more abruptly on a timeline that had been filled with anticipation.
With Gakpo’s goal and his visible reaction tied to that loss, the Netherlands’ lead against Morocco came with a reminder that the brightest moments on a global stage can be immediately shadowed by tragedy.
Cody Gakpo Netherlands vs Morocco World Cup round of 32 Monterrey Noa van der Bij unborn son died Samuël 2026 World Cup