Depay sets new records as the Netherlands record a slim victory

Memphis Depay has emerged as the Netherlands’ all-time leading scorer after netting a brace of goals in their World Cup qualifier against  Lithuania in Kaunas.

The Netherlands held on for a 3-2 win at S. Dariaus ir S. Girėno stadionas on Sunday evening, with Depay making the day a special one with his two goals. 

The former Manchester United winger, who now plies his trade with  Brazilian side Corinthians, opened the scoring when he turned in Cody Gakpo’s cross for his record 51st international goal.

He eventually netted the winning goal, which was his 52nd goal for the Oranges. The 31-year-old scored with a powerful header from Denzel Dumfries’ cross.

Depay, who also had stints with Barcelona and Atletico, achieved the feat in his 104th cap.

His former Oranje team-mate Robin van Persie was the holder of the record with 50 goals from 102 games between 2005 and 2017.

Before his move to Brazil last year, Depay had played for PSV, Manchester United, Lyon, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid.

After making his national team debut in 2013 against Turkey, he scored his first goal against Australia at the 2014 World Cup, held in Brazil.

The win put the Netherlands on top of Group G with 10 points from four games.

The Netherlands had gone two up from Depay and Quieten Tmber gals before Lithuania scored twice to end the first half 2-2 at half-time.

The Netherlands eventually got the winner in the second half through the record man Depay against the lowest-ranked team in Fifa’s world rankings (143rd) to ever score against the Dutch.

Their next qualifiers will be against Malta on October 9, 2025, the next FIFA international calendar month.

After the retirement of Robin van Persie from international football in 2017, Memphis gradually moved from the left wing to the striker position during a difficult time that the Oranje failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, having experienced the same for EURO 2016.

The positional move worked for him as he became the focal point of the team attack in his first 15 Netherlands games, scoring eight goals, equalling his tally from his first 35 caps.

Depay is also the tenth player in Dutch history to win a century of caps.