Three Goals, Zero Reward
Cody Gakpo did everything right at the 2026 World Cup. The Liverpool forward scored three goals in four matches — a header against Senegal in the group stage, a curled effort from the edge of the box against Chile, and an equalizer against Morocco in the Round of 32 that temporarily saved the Netherlands' tournament. His three goals placed him joint-top of the Golden Boot race at the time of his elimination. Yet none of it mattered. The Netherlands were knocked out on penalties by Morocco, and Gakpo's World Cup ended not with a celebration but with him sitting on the pitch in Monterrey, staring at the ground.
The Liverpool Factor
Gakpo's form at the World Cup was a direct extension of his superb 2025-26 season at Liverpool. Under Arne Slot, who had replaced Jurgen Klopp, Gakpo had been converted from an inconsistent winger into a devastating inside forward operating between the lines. He scored 16 Premier League goals and added 9 assists, forming a potent partnership with Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez. His understanding of space — when to drift wide, when to attack centrally, when to drop deep and link play — had reached a new level of sophistication. At the World Cup, he was often the only Dutch player capable of creating something from nothing.
The Morocco Match: Individual Brilliance vs Collective Organization
The Round of 32 clash between the Netherlands and Morocco was a study in contrasting philosophies. The Netherlands, under Ronald Koeman, relied heavily on individual quality — Gakpo's creativity, Virgil van Dijk's aerial dominance, Frenkie de Jong's ball progression. Morocco, under Walid Regragui, operated as a unit, with every player understanding their defensive responsibilities within a rigid 4-1-4-1 shape. Gakpo scored the Netherlands' equalizer in the 67th minute, collecting a pass from de Jong, turning past two Moroccan defenders, and firing into the far corner. It was the moment of highest individual quality in the entire match. But individual quality, ultimately, was not enough.
Why the Netherlands Failed Despite Gakpo's Brilliance
The Dutch national team's structural problems extended far beyond any single player's ability to solve them. Koeman's tactical approach was criticized throughout the tournament: a 4-3-3 formation that left too much space between the midfield and defense, inadequate pressing triggers that allowed opponents to play through the Dutch midfield, and an over-reliance on Van Dijk's ability to win aerial duels rather than building a coherent defensive system. In four matches, the Netherlands conceded five goals — three from situations where the defensive shape had been broken by simple through-balls. Gakpo could score, but he could not defend for an entire team.
The Penalty Shootout and Its Aftermath
In the penalty shootout against Morocco, Gakpo converted his spot-kick — a composed finish into the bottom-left corner. But three of his teammates missed. Wout Weghorst hit the crossbar. Teun Koopmeiners saw his effort saved by Yassine Bounou. And Steven Bergwijn placed his penalty too close to the goalkeeper. Morocco converted all five of their penalties. The shootout lasted less than 10 minutes. For Gakpo, who had given everything across 120 minutes of regular and extra time, the abrupt ending was cruel. He had covered 12.8 kilometers in the match, the most of any player on either side.
What Does Gakpo's World Cup Mean for His Career
At 25, Gakpo has time for more World Cups. His performances in the United States and Mexico confirmed what Liverpool fans already knew: he is a world-class attacker capable of performing on the biggest stage. The question for the Netherlands is whether the team around him can be rebuilt in time for the 2030 World Cup in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco — a tournament where the Dutch will need to provide Gakpo with a supporting cast worthy of his talent. For now, his three goals at the 2026 World Cup stand as a reminder of what might have been if the team had matched his individual brilliance.
Tags: Cody Gakpo, Netherlands, World Cup 2026, Liverpool, Golden Boot, Morocco, penalty shootout, Ronald Koeman, Virgil van Dijk, eliminated
Sources consulted: ESPN · FIFA · CBS Sports · Yahoo Sports
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