“I don’t care who you’re supporting tonight. Every football fan should stand up and applaud Cody Gakpo. What he showed was not just talent, it was strength, resilience, and a love that will never fade away”, Zlatan said about what happened on the pitch with Cody Gakpo.
The Dutchman was at the center of one of the most emotional images of the 2026 World Cup during the match between the Netherlands and Morocco.
After scoring the 1-0, the forward did not celebrate as he usually does. He knelt down on the grass, lowered his head, and broke down in tears while his teammates ran to embrace him, aware of the difficult moment he is going through off the pitch.
The reason is deeply personal.
A few days before the match, Gakpo and his partner, model Noa Van der Bij, announced the loss of the baby they were expecting. The pregnancy ended unexpectedly during the gestation period, with the birth planned for October.
It was Noa herself who shared the news through her social media with a photograph of both of them holding a small hat and a baby blanket. In the message, they confessed that they had “broken hearts” and thanked everyone for the outpouring of love they began receiving from different parts of the world.
Despite the pain, Gakpo decided to remain with the Dutch national team. After speaking with his partner, he chose not to leave the training camp and to continue playing in the World Cup, a decision that was publicly supported by the Royal Dutch Football Association, which also asked for respect for the family’s privacy.
His goal against Morocco ended up becoming much more than just a score. For many fans, it was a silent tribute to the son he never got to know and a demonstration of the strength it takes to keep going even in the midst of grief.
Images of the forward crying spread around the world, and thousands of people pointed out that behind every footballer, there is also a personal story that often remains invisible until a moment like this reveals it.
Watch the inspiring moment here: