Cody Gakpo
A versatile Dutch forward whose elegant playmaking and clinical finishing made him a World Cup standout and a key piece for Liverpool's future.
Born 1999 (age 27)·Dutch footballer·Birthday: May 7·Generation Z
Biography
Cody Gakpo's rise has been a masterclass in steady, intelligent evolution. At PSV Eindhoven, he transformed from a tricky winger into a complete forward, combining a surgeon's touch with a powerful frame. His breakout moment arrived on the world's biggest stage: the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where he scored in three consecutive group stage matches for the Netherlands, announcing his talent to a global audience. This prompted a swift move to Liverpool, where he faced the immense pressure of replacing iconic attackers. Gakpo met it with characteristic calm, adapting his game to function as a central striker or creative link. His style is not defined by blistering pace but by spatial awareness, clever movement, and a knack for decisive goals, making him a modern forward built for tactical complexity.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Cody was born in 1999, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Cody Was Born
The biggest hits of 1999
#1 Movie
Star Wars: Episode I
Best Picture
American Beauty
#1 TV Show
ER
Cody's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1999Born
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2004Started school
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2012Became a teenager
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2015Could drive
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2017Could vote
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2020Turned 21
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 27 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Scored in three consecutive matches for the Netherlands during the 2022 FIFA World Cup group stage.
- Won the Dutch Footballer of the Year award in 2022 while playing for PSV Eindhoven.
- Helped Liverpool win the EFL Cup in 2024, contributing key goals during the tournament run.
- Finished as the Eredivisie's joint top scorer in the 2021-22 season with 12 goals.
Did You Know?
Both of his parents have athletic backgrounds; his father is from Togo and was a footballer, and his mother is Dutch and a former rugby player.
He is a devout Christian and has spoken about his faith guiding his career.
Gakpo studied journalism alongside his early football career, considering a backup plan.
He has a younger brother who is also a professional footballer in the Netherlands.
“I'm not a typical winger who goes one-on-one all the time. I like to come inside and be involved in the game.”
