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In the official technical statistics, Gakpo's second goal against Sweden is marked as the 100th goal of this World Cup. 5 1, temporarily topping Group F. The screen is full of milestone celebration GIFs.
According to official statistics, Gakpo's second goal against Sweden was marked as the 100th goal of this World Cup. A 5-1 victory, temporarily topping Group F. The screen was filled with milestone celebration GIFs.
Four days later, his partner Noa van der Bij posted a statement on Instagram. Their unborn son was gone.
On June 27, the news was announced. The child was named Elijah Raphael Gakpo, their second child.
Gakpo's personal statement was extremely brief, asking the public for "understanding and space." The 27-year-old forward chose these two words, drawing a line in the sand, keeping outsiders at bay. The official press release from the Royal Dutch Football Association was also restrained, offering condolences, confirming prior knowledge, and then sealing their lips: "No further comment, including details of the support provided. Any future disclosure of information will be at the family's discretion."
Noa mentioned a small detail in her post. She and Gakpo went to church, where there was only one other child. "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."
The name carries weight. Elijah means "Yahweh is my God" in Hebrew. Gakpo is known for his devout faith; during this tournament, he organized a prayer group of over a dozen players in the squad, with eleven or twelve internationals praying together before matches. According to British media, this group was the glue holding the dressing room together. Now these brothers knew what had happened, and all they could do was stand quietly beside him for a while after training ended.
Anfield fans flooded social media with "You'll Never Walk Alone." Those words, printed on scarves sold for decades, now seemed painfully stark.
The Netherlands vs. Morocco match was set for June 29, Monday, at Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe, Mexico. An extra round of 32 in the expanded 48-team 2026 World Cup, a single-elimination match. Koeman named his 26-man squad on May 27, and Gakpo was on it. He chose to stay.
27 years old, his eldest son Samuel just learning to walk. There will forever be one more name on the family register. On Monday night, he will either be in the player tunnel or staying at the hotel. The referee won't wait; kickoff time is set in stone.