The Netherlands took the lead against Morocco in their Round of 32 encounter at the 2026 World Cup thanks to a second-half strike from Cody Gakpo.

The Liverpool winger’s goal took him within one strike of matching Johnny Rep’s record as the Netherlands’ all-time leading World Cup scorer.

The 27-year-old forward was set up by teammate Crysencio Summerville, who latched onto Wout Weghorst’s flick-on before threading a perfect pass that allowed Gakpo to burst past the Moroccan defence and finish clinically.

After netting the opener, Gakpo’s reaction was notably restrained. He appeared overwhelmed with emotion, breaking down on the pitch as his teammates rushed over from the Dutch bench to console and congratulate him inside the Morocco penalty area.

Despite his visible composure during the match, it later emerged that Gakpo had been dealing with personal tragedy. The forward took to the field just days after he and his partner suffered the heartbreaking loss of their unborn child, spending the previous 48 hours surrounded by family.

Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman and captain Virgil van Dijk both expressed admiration for Gakpo’s strength and resilience during such an unimaginably difficult period.

“We did everything possible to support him, both as teammates and staff,” Koeman said. “In the first few days, he had the freedom to be with his family. He handled it incredibly well — there was never a moment when he said, ‘I want to go back, I want to be with them again.’”

Van Dijk also spoke about his deep respect for Gakpo, highlighting how the player and his family had dealt with the situation with great courage and dignity. “The most important thing is to ask, ‘What do you need?’ It’s terrible news, and it reminds us that football is secondary. There are far more important things in life. It’s very sad, but Cody is dealing with it,” the Dutch captain said.

Gakpo’s performances on the pitch have remained remarkable despite his personal challenges. The Liverpool star has scored three goals and provided one assist for the Netherlands at the 2026 World Cup so far, including a brace against Sweden before his crucial strike against Morocco in the Round of 32.