In the early hours of July 7th, the Netherlands will face Turkey in a crucial Euro 2024 quarterfinal clash. Ahead of the match, the Dutch newspaper “De Telegraaf” highlighted Gakpo’s incredible tournament efficiency, stating that the 25-year-old has already entered the top 10 all-time Dutch goalscorers in major competitions. Tonight, he has the chance to challenge the records held by legends like Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder.
The Netherlands boasts a proud history in world football. Even excluding Olympic football and the UEFA Nations League, they have made the top three in major tournaments (World Cup and European Championship) nine times, capturing one European Championship title and three World Cup runner-up finishes.
Dennis Bergkamp holds the record for most tournament goals (World Cup and European Championship) for the Netherlands with 10 goals. Robin van Persie follows with 9 goals. Ruud van Nistelrooy, Wesley Sneijder, and Patrick Kluivert are tied for third with 8 goals each. Ruud van Nistelrooy and Arjen Robben share sixth place with 7 goals. Rob Rensenbrink, Memphis Depay, and Cody Gakpo are tied for eighth with 6 goals.
Gakpo’s entry into the top 10 is a remarkable achievement, especially considering his young age. He has scored 3 goals in this Euro tournament, finding the back of the net against Poland, Austria, and Romania, while also adding an assist against Romania. In his career, he has only played 10 World Cup and European Championship matches, accumulating a total of 810 minutes (excluding stoppage time, 454 minutes in the World Cup, 356 minutes in the European Championship), and has bagged 6 goals, an astonishing rate of efficiency.
Gakpo has also proven to be a true “big game player.” He has made 28 appearances for the Netherlands, totaling 2024 minutes, scoring 12 goals. In non-tournament matches (such as qualifiers, Nations League, and friendlies), he has played 1214 minutes and scored 6 goals, averaging a goal every 202.3 minutes. Conversely, in the more demanding tournament setting, his efficiency increases to a goal every 135 minutes, demonstrating his ability to rise to the occasion. “De Telegraaf” expects that if he scores against Turkey, Gakpo will not only be in contention for the Euro 2024 Golden Boot but also potentially surpass Robben and even Sneijder on the all-time tournament goalscoring list for the Netherlands.
Among current players, Memphis Depay also finds himself in the top 10. He has played 97 times for the Netherlands, including four World Cup and European Championship tournaments (2014 World Cup, 2020 European Championship, 2022 World Cup, and 2024 European Championship), scoring 6 goals, demonstrating impressive efficiency though not as high as Gakpo’s.
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