Cody Gakpo fell to the ground in the 72nd minute. Not from a tackle, not from exhaustion, but from the weight of something no football match could contain. The Dutch forward had just scored the opening goal against Morocco in the round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the celebration that followed was unlike anything this tournament has produced.

Two days earlier, Gakpo and his partner Noa van der Bij had shared the news that their unborn son, Elijah Raphael Gakpo, had passed away. The baby had been due in October. Instead of stepping away from the squad, the Liverpool attacker chose to play, and when the ball hit the net, every emotion from the preceding 48 hours came pouring out at once.

A moment that transcended the match

His teammates knew. You could see it in how quickly they surrounded him, not with the choreographed celebrations that have become standard in modern football, but with genuine embraces. Gakpo put his head in his hands on the pitch before pointing skyward, a tribute to Elijah that needed no explanation.

The Netherlands went on to win the match, advancing further in the tournament.

Gakpo’s tournament so far

Heading into the Morocco match, Gakpo had already tallied two goals and an assist in the tournament. He has started every single group-stage and knockout-round match for the Dutch, cementing himself as an indispensable part of their attacking setup.

The goal against Morocco was classic Gakpo: right place, right time, clinical finish. Gakpo and Van der Bij, who already have one son together, made their announcement on June 27. The couple’s decision to share their grief publicly, just before a World Cup knockout match, spoke to a desire for transparency over privacy.