More than football: Gakpo's heartbreaking tribute to his unborn child

With one finger pointed toward the sky last night, Cody Gakpo searched for something far greater than celebration.

The Netherlands forward had just given his country hope against Morocco, instinctively slipping behind the defence before calmly beating Yassine Bounou. For a brief moment, football returned to the forefront.

Then reality came crashing back.

Morocco edge Netherlands in shootout to seal last-16 berth

Only days earlier, Gakpo and his partner, Noa van der Bij, had suffered the devastating loss of their unborn child. Faced with unimaginable grief, the couple made the deeply personal decision that the Liverpool forward would remain with the Dutch national team and continue at the World Cup.

For him, football became less about winning and more about coping.

He never stopped training, nor asked to leave the squad. And when his chance arrived on the biggest stage, he took it, but there was no wild celebration.

After finding the net, Gakpo collapsed onto the pitch, his body seemingly emptied of every remaining ounce of emotion. He buried his face in his hands, a heartbreaking image of a man carrying pain no football match could ever erase.

Within seconds, his teammates sprinted toward him.

The sea of orange shirts that surrounded Gakpo became the defining image of the evening. Morocco would eventually fight back, eliminate the Netherlands on penalties and end the Oranje's World Cup dream.

Still, Moroccan players like Achraf Hakimi embraced Gakpo with genuine compassion, recognising that some battles transcend sport.

The World Cup is over for him, but the hardest journey still lies ahead. The difference is that he will not have to walk it alone.

WORLD CUP - KNOCKOUT STAGE

Round of 32

Sunday

South Africa - Canada 1-0 (0-0)

/Eustaquio 90+2/

Monday

Brazil - Japan 2-1 (0-1)

/Casemiro 56, Martinelli 90+5 - Sano 29/

Germany - Paraguay (0-1)

/Havertz 54 - Enciso 42/

Tuesday

Netherlands - Morocco 2-3 on penalties (1-1)

/Gakpo 72 - Diop 90+1/

20.00: (3.50) Ivory Coast (3.55) Norway (2.10)

00.00: (1.30) France (5.80) Sweden (9.00)

Wednesday

04.00: (2.25) Mexico (2.95) Ecuador (3.85)

19.00: (1.30) England (5.20) Dr Congo (11.0)

23.00: (2.15) Belgium (3.25) Senegal (3.75)

Thursday

03.00: (1.43) USA (4.60) B&H (8.50)

22.00: (1.32) Spain (5.25) Austria (10.0)

Friday

02.00: (1.95) Portugal (3.40) Croatia (4.10)

06.00: (1.95) Switzerland (3.45) Algeria (4.00)

21.00: (3.15) Australia (2.95) Egypt (2.55)

Saturday

01.00: (1.17) Argentina (7.50) Cape Verde (16.0)

04.30: (1.70) Colombia (3.60) Ghana (5.50)

***odds are subject to change***