Cody Gakpo breaks down in tears after emotional goal against Morocco amid personal tragedy; Video goes viral

Cody Gakpo has emerged as one of the brightest performers at the World Cup, but his journey has been marked by profound personal sorrow. The Netherlands winger and his partner, Noa van der Bij, recently shared the heartbreaking news of a miscarriage, revealing a deeply emotional period in their lives. Ahead of the Round of 32 match against Morocco, Gakpo informed fans through an Instagram Story, bringing attention to the difficult circumstances he was facing off the pitch.


Despite the grief, he chose to remain with his national team and continue competing at the highest level. After scoring in the knockout clash, Gakpo was visibly overcome with emotion, a moment that quickly resonated worldwide as the footage went viral. Teammates and supporters rallied around him, praising his strength and professionalism. The incident has since underscored the human side of elite sport, where personal pain and professional duty often collide.



The stadium in Kansas City erupted in the 72nd minute when Gakpo found the back of the net, sparking a wave of emotion across the Dutch bench. Overcome with feeling, the Netherlands forward was seen in tears as his teammates rushed to embrace him in a powerful moment that quickly became the focus of the night. However, the celebration was short-lived. Morocco fought back late, grabbing an equaliser in the 91st minute through Issia Diop to force extra time. The momentum shifted firmly in Morocco’s favour during the additional period, as they pressed for a winner but couldn’t quite finish the job.


The match eventually went to a tense penalty shootout, where the Netherlands suffered heartbreak after three missed spot-kicks from Justin Kluivert, Quinten Timber, and Crysencio Summerville. Morocco held their nerve, with Ismael Saibari converting the decisive penalty to seal a 3-2 win. Morocco will now face co-hosts Canada in the Round of 16 clash on Saturday.