Liverpool and Netherlands forward Cody Gakpo has requested privacy and space after the loss of his unborn son.
His partner, model Noa van der Bij, shared the news on Saturday. The couple were expecting their second child in October. She posted a photo of their hands on a blanket and knitted hat, saying their baby boy had passed away during the pregnancy, thanking everyone for their support, and naming him Elijah Raphael Gakpo, “forever loved.”
She later shared an image of a candle and cross, explaining they had lit a candle at church and then taken their son Samuel to the playground, where the only other child present was named Elijah—a moment she described as a beautiful sign that their little boy is never far away.
In his own message, Gakpo—currently on World Cup duty—called it an incredibly difficult time for the family and asked for understanding as they seek privacy.
The 27-year-old has started all three of the Netherlands’ group matches, scoring twice against Sweden to help them reach the knockout stage. The Netherlands play Morocco in the last 32 on Tuesday (02:00 BST) in Mexico.