Cody Gakpo fell to his knees and was swarmed by his Netherlands teammates after scoring against Morocco on Tuesday – an emotional release just days after he and his partner lost their unborn son. The Liverpool forward, 27, opened the scoring in the 72nd minute of a World Cup last-32 tie that would end in a 3-2 penalty shootout defeat after a 1-1 draw. His partner, model Noa van der Bij, announced the news on Saturday. "With broken hearts, we share the devastating news that our baby boy passed away during pregnancy," she wrote on social media, alongside a picture of the couple holding hands over a blanket and knitted hat. "Elijah Raphael Gakpo. Forever loved. Forever our son." Gakpo, who started every Netherlands game at the tournament and scored three times, was substituted in the 113th minute and did not take part in the shootout. Issa Diop had levelled in stoppage time to force extra time before Morocco won.
That raw display of grief and resilience came in the same week Liverpool signed another left winger – Victor Munoz from Osasuna for £34.5m – and expressed interest in a £86m package for RB Leipzig's 19-year-old forward Yan Diomande, who can play on both flanks. The arrivals raise obvious questions about Gakpo's future at Anfield. "A good question. Obviously it's a little bit different," Gakpo said when asked about his role for the Netherlands compared with Liverpool. "It's different where the coach wants me to be, the freedom that I have," he added, before stopping himself.
“Cody Gakpo scores for Netherlands days after losing unborn son; Liverpool's new signings cast doubt on his Anfield future.”
Gakpo has 50 goals in 180 appearances for Liverpool – the second Dutchman after Dirk Kuyt to reach a half-century for the club – and was usually first choice when fit. In the 2024-25 title-winning campaign under Arne Slot, he scored 18 goals and provided seven assists across 49 games, earning a long-term deal he was "extremely happy" to sign. Last season, however, despite playing three more matches, his numbers fell to nine goals and six assists. His link-up with left-back Milos Kerkez – now reunited with his former Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola at Liverpool – needs work, particularly in exploiting overlapping runs. Their understanding improved as the season progressed, and Iraola will expect Kerkez to accelerate his development.
Liverpool still view Gakpo as a proven Premier League attacker who can function in different ways, and with Hugo Ekitike potentially missing until 2027 with a ruptured Achilles, Gakpo's ability to play centrally offers options. Yet the pursuit of Diomande is heating up, teenage talent Rio Ngumoha is set for a more prominent role, and Florian Wirtz – who played off the left for Liverpool last season – is featuring there for Germany at the World Cup. How Iraola views Wirtz's best position may well determine Gakpo's future at a club that expects more than nine goals from a first-choice forward.