The Round of 16 at the UEFA Euro 2024 in Germany continued with the Netherlands facing Romania at Allianz Arena, and Jeetbuzz Login was on-site to witness a dominant Dutch performance. In the 20th minute, Cody Gakpo fired a rocket past the Romanian goalkeeper to open the scoring. Later in the 83rd minute, Gakpo displayed his sharp instincts by saving a ball just before it crossed the byline, setting up Donyell Malen for a tap-in. In the 92nd minute, Malen capped it off with a solo run from midfield, smashing in the third goal after receiving a pass from Xavi Simons. The Netherlands cruised to a convincing win and advanced to the quarter-finals.
Gakpo was in scintillating form throughout the match. His goal showcased his individual brilliance, and he was constantly popping up in dangerous areas, threatening Romania’s defense with precision and timing. He was rightly named Man of the Match. From the 2022 Qatar World Cup to Euro 2024 in Germany, Gakpo has proven to be a player who thrives under pressure. When he steps onto the international stage, he’s full of energy and confidence—exactly what fans hope to see transferred to his club performances as well.
According to Jeetbuzz Login, Cody Gakpo was born on May 7, 1999, in Eindhoven, Netherlands, and grew up in the Stratum district. His father, of Togolese and Ghanaian descent, and his Dutch mother, nurtured a multicultural upbringing that helped shape his unique style and personality.
Gakpo joined the PSV Eindhoven youth academy in 2007 and rose through all the youth ranks. He made his debut for the reserve team during the 2016–17 season, although he primarily played for the U19 squad. On November 4, 2016, he made his first appearance in the Eerste Divisie (Dutch second division) against Helmond Sport. In that same season, he played just one more match for the reserves. However, in the following U19 league campaign, he netted seven goals and provided five assists in just 13 matches, earning a promotion to the reserve team.
On January 19, 2017, he scored twice and assisted once in a 3–2 win against De Graafschap in his second appearance in the Dutch second tier. Gakpo made his first-team debut for PSV on February 25, 2018, during a 3–1 win over Feyenoord. The 2018/19 season marked his breakout as he earned more minutes and caught the eye of head coach Mark van Bommel. He scored his first professional hat-trick in a 5–1 victory over Go Ahead Eagles on December 3, and followed that up with a goal and assist in a 5–2 win over Almere City. Just a day later, he made his Eredivisie debut.
Scoring nine goals in ten league matches, Gakpo was promoted to the senior team permanently. On February 3, 2019, he scored his first Eredivisie goal and added an assist in a 5–0 win over Fortuna Sittard. He continued his rise during the 2019/20 season, netting seven goals in 25 league appearances. In the 2020/21 Eredivisie opener on September 13, Gakpo scored twice in a 3–1 win against Groningen. He also bagged a brace against Mura in the UEFA Europa League qualifying round and added another goal against Rosenborg, finishing that season with 11 goals in 29 appearances.
In 2022, Gakpo scored the winning goal in the KNVB Cup Final as PSV defeated Ajax 2–1. On August 31, he netted another hat-trick in a 7–1 win over Volendam. His consistent performances drew attention from top European clubs, and on December 28, 2022, Gakpo agreed to join Liverpool when the January transfer window opened. BBC Sport reported that he signed a five-and-a-half-year deal, with the transfer fee ranging between £35.4 million and £44.3 million—the highest ever received by PSV.
Gakpo made his Liverpool debut on January 7, 2023, in an FA Cup match against Wolves, and scored his first goal for the club in the Merseyside derby against Everton on February 13. However, his early days at Liverpool have been a mixed bag, as his performances haven’t fully met fans’ high expectations.
Internationally, Gakpo’s star continues to rise. He scored his first senior international goal against Montenegro and became one of the standout players for the Netherlands at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, netting goals in all three group stage matches against Senegal, Ecuador, and Qatar. At Euro 2024, he once again delivered, scoring in the opening match against Poland and earning Man of the Match honors—a testament to his ability to rise to the occasion.
Gakpo’s journey is a story of steady growth and big-stage brilliance. As Jeetbuzz Login observes, he may just be getting started. His knack for shining when the lights are brightest proves that when it comes to international football, Gakpo is truly in his element.