With the retirement of legends like Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie, many soccer enthusiasts believe the Netherlands missed a significant chance to claim the World Cup title.
Nonetheless, the squad selected for the 2026 World Cup still boasts impressive talent. Virgil van Dijk stands out as possibly the best defender in the world right now, and then there’s Codi Gakpo, the talented left-winger from Liverpool.
For the Netherlands to succeed in this tournament, Gakpo must perform at his best, especially with a crucial match against Sweden approaching on June 20th.
While Gakpo might not be the most reliable player consistently, his personal life seems quite stable. He’s been in a relationship with Dutch model Noa van der Bij since 2020, which might contribute to his focus on the field.
Recently, the couple welcomed a son, Samuel Seth Gakpo, in April 2024.
Noa has been a supportive presence throughout Gakpo’s career, even traveling to the U.S. to cheer him on at the World Cup.
This support was evident in an Instagram post she made on June 19th, where she shared photos of herself in Gakpo’s number 11 jersey and the iconic orange outfit of Holland. Their son Samuel also sported a jersey with “Papa” on the back instead of Gakpo’s last name. Her caption read, “WK 2⚽️26 🦁🇳🇱🧡.”
Gakpo has a solid opportunity to make an impact in the upcoming World Cup match against Sweden on Saturday.
