Memphis Depay has written his name in the Dutch football history books after becoming the Netherlands’ all-time leading scorer with a brace against Lithuania.
The 31-year-old forward, now playing for Corinthians in Brazil, surpassed Robin van Persie’s record to reach 52 international goals.
The Oranje talisman opened the scoring in Kaunas by finishing Cody Gakpo’s precise cross, netting his 51st goal for the national team.
Despite Lithuania’s spirited comeback from two goals down to level 2-2 before half-time, Depay rose highest to head home from Denzel Dumfries’ delivery and restore Dutch control. That decisive strike sealed victory for the Netherlands team.
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From rising star to Dutch legend
Depay’s milestone comes in his 104th cap, overtaking Van Persie who had managed 50 goals in 102 appearances between 2005 and 2017. Having represented PSV, Manchester United, Lyon, Barcelona, and Atlético Madrid before his move to Brazil, the forward has shown remarkable resilience and longevity at the top level.
Since debuting for the Netherlands in 2013 against Turkey, Depay has been a consistent performer. His first international goal coming at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil against Australia. Over a decade later, he has transformed from a promising youngster into the country’s most prolific scorer.
Meanwhile, the Netherlands’ win places them at the top of Group G with 10 points from four matches. Lithuania, despite being ranked 143rd in the world, produced a gutsy display and became the lowest-ranked nation ever to score against the Dutch.
As the road to 2026 continues, Depay’s goals will remain central to the Netherlands’ ambitions.
Tags: Netherlands, Memphis Depay, Lithuania, Kaunas, Oranje.
