Cody Gakpo, 27, Liverpool forward and a starting star for the Netherlands at the 2026 World Cup, was experiencing one of the best tournaments of his career. Two goals against Sweden, a team that finished first in Group F. On the outside, everything seemed perfect. 💔
But on June 27, his partner Noa van der Bij posted the news on Instagram that brought him to a sudden halt: they had lost their baby in the fifth month of pregnancy. The boy was going to be named Elijah Raphael Gakpo and was due in October. Four weeks earlier, the couple had announced the pregnancy with excitement. Four days before the announcement, Gakpo had already not gotten off the bus to train — the KNVB took him by car without giving any explanation. 😔
After speaking with Noa, Gakpo made the decision to stay with the national team. The Netherlands rallied around him. Liverpool did too. And he remained standing, with Elijah’s name in his heart, ready to face Morocco in the round of 32. There are matches that go far beyond football. 🙏