Cody Gakpo Scores Emotional Goal Days After Death of Unborn Child
Cody Gakpo scored a thrilling goal for the Netherlands at the 2026 World Cup, just days after the death of his unborn son, but the team were eliminated by Morocco on penalties.
Days after announcing the tragic news of the death of his unborn son, Netherlands international Cody Gakpo experienced one of the most emotional moments of the 2026 World Cup in his round of 16 match against Morocco. Gakpo opened the scoring in Monday's match. In the 72nd minute, the Dutch striker won a battle for the ball at the edge of the area and, despite colliding with Moroccan goalkeeper Bono, managed to shoot. Before the collision, Gakpo managed to get the ball between the legs of a Morocco defender and Bono. After scoring, several of his teammates rushed to hug him during the celebration, and Gakpo appeared to hold back tears.
However, the Netherlands were unable to secure victory after Gakpo's goal. Moroccan defender Issa Diop equalized in stoppage time, taking the match into extra time. Morocco ended up victorious, winning on penalties.
Monday marked Gakpo's first game since he and his partner, Noa van der Bij, announced that their unborn son passed away on Saturday. Van der Bij posted a photo on social media of the couple holding hands on a blanket and small woolen hat, with the announcement that the baby had passed away. "Thank you for your love and support. Elijay Raphael Gakpo. Forever loved. Forever our son," Van der Bij wrote. The baby was due in October and would be the couple's second child.
"We went to church to light a candle. Then we walked to the church playground with our son Samuel. There was only one other child there. His name was Elijah. There couldn't be a more beautiful sign from God. He reminded us that our little boy is never far away," Van der Bij wrote. In his own post, Gakpo said: "This is an incredibly difficult time for our family. We kindly ask for our privacy and space. Thank you for your understanding." Gakpo, 27, scored two group stage goals for the Netherlands, both in the victory over Sweden. This was also his sixth goal in World Cups, one goal behind Johnny Rep's record, who has the most goals in World Cups for the Netherlands. The goal was also Gakpo's 24th in 54 international appearances.
---
Related Articles
1. [World Cup 2026](https://pitchpulsemedia.com/en/news/lautaro-responds-to-criticism-you-are-obsessed-with-goals-i-focus-on-the-team) 2. [Real Madrid Players Dominate 2026 FIFA World Cup Goalscoring Charts](https://pitchpulsemedia.com/en/news/real-madrid-players-dominate-2026-fifa-world-cup-goalscoring-charts)