At 31 years old, Depay, valued at 9 million euros, plays in the Brazilian Serie A; in World Cup qualifiers, he scored 7 goals and provided 4 assists in 6 matches, holding the record as the Netherlands' all-time top scorer and assist provider.

Do you want to know? The Netherlands national team currently relies on 31-year-old Depay, a Brazilian Serie A forward valued at only 9 million euros, to lead their attack? In the early hours of October 13th Beijing time, during the European World Cup qualifiers, the Netherlands defeated Finland 4-0. In this match, Depay started and played 62 minutes before being substituted, directly contributing to three goals with 2 assists and 1 goal to secure the victory.

Now 32 years old, Depay joined the Brazilian Serie A powerhouse Corinthians on a free transfer last summer. In this World Cup qualifying campaign, he has played in all 6 matches for the Netherlands, starting 5 times, totaling 388 minutes on the pitch. He has scored 7 goals and provided 4 assists. The Netherlands scored 22 goals in 6 matches, with Depay involved in half of them (11 goals). He is also the Netherlands' all-time leading scorer and assist provider, having made 106 appearances for the national team with 54 goals and 36 assists.

The Netherlands' attacking stars are currently struggling; this squad only called up 4 forwards: Gakpo, Malen, Weghorst, and Depay. For the number 9 position, only Weghorst and Depay are options. Depay must shoulder the responsibility of leading the Netherlands’ attack at next year’s World Cup. Goals in qualifiers don’t always tell the full story—Depay’s performance in the 2024 European Championship, with 1 goal and 1 assist in 6 appearances, faced criticism. While Depay has proven himself in qualifiers, Haaland’s 8 goals in 2 qualifier matches highlight the low scoring difficulty in Europe’s qualifying rounds. As the Netherlands’ all-time top scorer and assist provider, Depay needs to raise his impact in major tournaments. The Dutch attack’s performance at the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico will determine how far the team can go, and Depay carries a heavy burden.