Kodi Gakpo cries in tears after scoring crucial goal in World Cup
Cody Gakpo scored a vital goal for the Netherlands at the World Cup, which came just days after a personal tragedy, creating an emotional moment on the field.
Cody Gakpo shed tears on the field after scoring the Netherlands' first goal against Morocco at the World Cup. He scored this goal just a few days after the sad news of his partner's miscarriage. Liverpool winger Gakpo revealed at the end of May that he and partner Noah van der Bij were expecting their second child. But in a heartbreaking development, Gakpo's girlfriend Noa revealed over the weekend that she had suffered a miscarriage and their son, named Elijah, is no longer alive.
Gakpo started for the Netherlands in the last-32 match in Monterrey on Monday and scored late in the second half. As soon as he scored the goal, he knelt down on the field with tears in his eyes. His teammates immediately consoled him. Gakpo raised his hands in homage to his unborn second child.
"With broken hearts, we share the tragic news that our son passed away in the womb," Gakpo's partner Van der Bij wrote on Instagram over the weekend. He added, "Thank you for your love and support. Elijah Raphael Gakpo. Always loved. Always our son." He also told that he had gone to the church to light a candle.
This goal of Gakpo is his third goal in this tournament and it takes his total to six goals in his World Cup career. The Netherlands or Morocco will face Canada in the last-16 on Saturday in Houston.