Cody Gakpo is one of the top footballers in the world these days. He is a Liverpool and the Netherlands international. You've witnessed him find the back of the net and create opportunities. However, he's more than just a footballer. He has a special upbringing. His parents were married in Africa. It took his father 20 years to construct a house in Togo. His Christian convictions underpin all his actions. He's also father to a young family. He endured a tragedy no parent should ever have to deal with in June 2026. He mourns the death of his unborn son Elijah. But he decided to play for his country. This is his story.
Early Life and Family Background
Cody Mathès Gakpo was born on May 7, 1999, in Eindhoven, the Netherlands . He is the second of three boys in his family. His older brother is called Sidney, and his younger brother is Ducferre . His parents are Johnny and Ank Gakpo .
His background is unique. His father, Johnny, is from Togo and also has Ghanaian ancestry . His mother, Ank, is Dutch and used to be a rugby player . They met in the 1980s when his mother was backpacking through Africa. She ended up at a bar in Togo and met Johnny, a former footballer. The rest is history .
Gakpo has spoken about how his parents' love story shaped him. He grew up in a football-loving family. From the age of two or three, he would go with his parents to watch his older brother play. By the time he was four, he started playing at the same club .
Read More: Who won the eagles are franklin county football game tonight?
The Dream House in Togo
One of the most interesting parts of Gakpo's story is about his father's dream house. Johnny Gakpo started building a house in Lome, the capital of Togo. This project took a very long time to finish .
When Gakpo was a child, he would tell his friends about his dad's house. But when he was 18, he had to admit that the house had been under construction for 12 years. His teammates laughed at him . But Gakpo learned an important lesson from this. He said that the best things in life happen slowly. "Brick by brick" is how you build something that lasts .
When Gakpo finally got to visit Togo for the first time after signing for Liverpool, he saw the house when it was nearly finished. He saw his father telling workers what to do. The tiles on the floor had beautiful, intricate patterns. At that moment, he understood his father's strength. His dad had come from Togo to Europe and worked hard to build a life .
His Football Career
Gakpo joined the PSV Eindhoven academy as a young boy. He made his senior debut for PSV in February 2018 . He scored 55 goals in 159 games for PSV before moving to Liverpool in January 2023 .
His big breakthrough came at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He was the star player for the Netherlands, scoring in every group game . This brought him to the attention of the world.
At Liverpool, he first played as a centre-forward under Jurgen Klopp. But under new manager Arne Slot, he moved back to his natural position as a left winger. During the 2024-25 season, he scored 18 goals and provided six assists. This helped Liverpool win the Premier League title. He was given a new long-term contract last summer .
The 2025-26 season has been more difficult for him. He has scored nine goals in 52 games. He only found the net twice in his last 24 matches . But he remains an important player for the Netherlands team .
His Faith
Gakpo is a deeply religious Christian. He has said that his faith is not just for his career but for his whole life . He reads the Bible every day. He speaks to people on the phone about it every day. He says it "never stops" .
During the European Championships in 2024, Gakpo led Bible study sessions with his teammate Memphis Depay . He sees his football talent as a gift from God. He wants to use it well .
His Family Now
Gakpo's girlfriend is Noa van der Bij. She is a model from the Netherlands . They have a son together named Samuël Seth Gakpo. Gakpo called the day his son was born the most important day of his life .
He has said that being a father is not always easy. His son is "a very busy boy" who never wants to sleep. But he is looking forward to teaching him about football and life. One day, he will tell his son about his father's house in Togo. He will explain how all great things are built slowly and deliberately .
The Recent Tragedy
In June 2026, just before the World Cup match against Morocco, Gakpo and his partner Noa suffered a terrible loss. They announced that their baby boy, who was due in October, had passed away during the pregnancy .
Noa van der Bij shared this news on Instagram. She wrote, "With broken hearts, we share this devastating news that our little boy has passed away during the pregnancy" . They had named him Elijah Raphael Gakpo . She also shared a picture of their hands holding a baby hat .
Gakpo was given the choice to leave the team and go home . Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman said the team had done everything they could to support him. Gakpo was given freedom to leave the hotel and be with his family . But he decided to stay with the team and play against Morocco .
This was a huge challenge for him. Many experts thought he would be on the bench . But he started the game. In the 72nd minute, he scored the opening goal for the Netherlands . After the goal, he did not celebrate. He pointed to the sky with tears in his eyes. Then he fell to the ground and cried. His teammates rushed over to comfort him .
It was one of the most emotional moments of the 2026 World Cup. Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk said, "We have done everything in our power to support him. It becomes clear once again that football is secondary" .
In a touching moment, Gakpo and Noa went to church to light a prayer candle. At the church playground, they met a child named Elijah. Noa said she saw this as a sign that their son was never far from them .
Conclusion
Who is Cody Gakpo? He is a talented footballer from Eindhoven. He is a father, a son, a man of faith. He is someone who has faced deep sadness but kept going. He is someone whose father built a house brick by brick over 20 years and taught him that good things take time. He is a man who played a World Cup match days after a heartbreaking loss and scored a goal.
His story shows that athletes are people too. They feel the same pain, love, and loss as everyone else. And sometimes, the most powerful moments are not about the sport itself, but about the human being playing it.
Matti Karttunen
Cody Gakpo is one of the top footballers in the world these days. He is a Liverpool and the Netherlands international. You've witnessed him find the back of the net and create opportunities. However, he's more than just a footballer. He has a special upbringing. His parents were married in Africa. It took his father 20 years to construct a house in Togo. His Christian convictions underpin all his actions. He's also father to a young family. He endured a tragedy no parent should ever have to deal with in June 2026. He mourns the death of his unborn son Elijah. But he decided to play for his country. This is his story.
Early Life and Family Background
Cody Mathès Gakpo was born on May 7, 1999, in Eindhoven, the Netherlands . He is the second of three boys in his family. His older brother is called Sidney, and his younger brother is Ducferre . His parents are Johnny and Ank Gakpo .
His background is unique. His father, Johnny, is from Togo and also has Ghanaian ancestry . His mother, Ank, is Dutch and used to be a rugby player . They met in the 1980s when his mother was backpacking through Africa. She ended up at a bar in Togo and met Johnny, a former footballer. The rest is history .
Gakpo has spoken about how his parents' love story shaped him. He grew up in a football-loving family. From the age of two or three, he would go with his parents to watch his older brother play. By the time he was four, he started playing at the same club .
Read More: Who won the eagles are franklin county football game tonight?
The Dream House in Togo
One of the most interesting parts of Gakpo's story is about his father's dream house. Johnny Gakpo started building a house in Lome, the capital of Togo. This project took a very long time to finish .
When Gakpo was a child, he would tell his friends about his dad's house. But when he was 18, he had to admit that the house had been under construction for 12 years. His teammates laughed at him . But Gakpo learned an important lesson from this. He said that the best things in life happen slowly. "Brick by brick" is how you build something that lasts .
When Gakpo finally got to visit Togo for the first time after signing for Liverpool, he saw the house when it was nearly finished. He saw his father telling workers what to do. The tiles on the floor had beautiful, intricate patterns. At that moment, he understood his father's strength. His dad had come from Togo to Europe and worked hard to build a life .
His Football Career
Gakpo joined the PSV Eindhoven academy as a young boy. He made his senior debut for PSV in February 2018 . He scored 55 goals in 159 games for PSV before moving to Liverpool in January 2023 .
His big breakthrough came at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He was the star player for the Netherlands, scoring in every group game . This brought him to the attention of the world.
At Liverpool, he first played as a centre-forward under Jurgen Klopp. But under new manager Arne Slot, he moved back to his natural position as a left winger. During the 2024-25 season, he scored 18 goals and provided six assists. This helped Liverpool win the Premier League title. He was given a new long-term contract last summer .
The 2025-26 season has been more difficult for him. He has scored nine goals in 52 games. He only found the net twice in his last 24 matches . But he remains an important player for the Netherlands team .
His Faith
Gakpo is a deeply religious Christian. He has said that his faith is not just for his career but for his whole life . He reads the Bible every day. He speaks to people on the phone about it every day. He says it "never stops" .
During the European Championships in 2024, Gakpo led Bible study sessions with his teammate Memphis Depay . He sees his football talent as a gift from God. He wants to use it well .
His Family Now
Gakpo's girlfriend is Noa van der Bij. She is a model from the Netherlands . They have a son together named Samuël Seth Gakpo. Gakpo called the day his son was born the most important day of his life .
He has said that being a father is not always easy. His son is "a very busy boy" who never wants to sleep. But he is looking forward to teaching him about football and life. One day, he will tell his son about his father's house in Togo. He will explain how all great things are built slowly and deliberately .
The Recent Tragedy
In June 2026, just before the World Cup match against Morocco, Gakpo and his partner Noa suffered a terrible loss. They announced that their baby boy, who was due in October, had passed away during the pregnancy .
Noa van der Bij shared this news on Instagram. She wrote, "With broken hearts, we share this devastating news that our little boy has passed away during the pregnancy" . They had named him Elijah Raphael Gakpo . She also shared a picture of their hands holding a baby hat .
Gakpo was given the choice to leave the team and go home . Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman said the team had done everything they could to support him. Gakpo was given freedom to leave the hotel and be with his family . But he decided to stay with the team and play against Morocco .
This was a huge challenge for him. Many experts thought he would be on the bench . But he started the game. In the 72nd minute, he scored the opening goal for the Netherlands . After the goal, he did not celebrate. He pointed to the sky with tears in his eyes. Then he fell to the ground and cried. His teammates rushed over to comfort him .
It was one of the most emotional moments of the 2026 World Cup. Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk said, "We have done everything in our power to support him. It becomes clear once again that football is secondary" .
In a touching moment, Gakpo and Noa went to church to light a prayer candle. At the church playground, they met a child named Elijah. Noa said she saw this as a sign that their son was never far from them .
Conclusion
Who is Cody Gakpo? He is a talented footballer from Eindhoven. He is a father, a son, a man of faith. He is someone who has faced deep sadness but kept going. He is someone whose father built a house brick by brick over 20 years and taught him that good things take time. He is a man who played a World Cup match days after a heartbreaking loss and scored a goal.
His story shows that athletes are people too. They feel the same pain, love, and loss as everyone else. And sometimes, the most powerful moments are not about the sport itself, but about the human being playing it.