Cody Gakpo has scored eight goals for the Netherlands across the UEFA European Championships and FIFA World Cups combined, a tally that locks him into the conversation around the country's greatest tournament performers.
A quiet rise to national team stardom
The 24-year-old forward didn't burst onto the international scene with a single breakout tournament. Instead, he's built his record steadily — two goals at Euro 2020, three at the 2022 World Cup, and three more at Euro 2024. That makes eight in three major competitions, a number that few Dutch players have reached in the modern era.
Gakpo's goals have come in knockout rounds and group stages alike. He scored against Senegal, Ecuador, and the United States in Qatar, then added strikes against Poland, Austria, and Romania in Germany. Each one pushed the Netherlands deeper into the tournament.
Legacy for the next generation
That kind of consistency in the biggest games doesn't go unnoticed inside the Dutch football system. Young players coming through academies now have a clear example of what it takes to perform on the international stage. Gakpo's record shows that you don't need to be a classic number nine to deliver — he's played mostly as a winger or second striker.
His eight goals already match or surpass totals from several Dutch legends. The list of names above him includes only the very best. And Gakpo is still in his mid-20s, so that number will almost certainly grow.
What makes the record stick
Tournament goals carry more weight than friendlies or qualifiers. Gakpo's eight have come under the pressure of elimination matches and packed stadiums. That's why they cement his legacy — not just the number, but the moments they came in.
He's also the only Dutch player to score in three consecutive major tournaments since the 1990s. That kind of run separates good international careers from truly memorable ones.
The next World Cup is in 2026. If Gakpo keeps his current rate, he'll pass double digits and force a bigger debate about where he ranks in Dutch history. For now, eight goals is enough to call him one of the country's greats.
