The Netherlands: Memphis Depay ties Robin van Persie’s Dutch all-time scoring record with 50th goal

Striker Memphis Depay has equalled Robin van Persie’s all-time goalscoring record for the Netherlands with a brace against Malta, bringing his total to 50.

Depay tied the record of the iconic Robin van Persie, who broke the record on October 11th, 2013, when the former Arsenal, Manchester United, Fenerbahce, and Feyenoord striker bagged a hat-trick in the 8-1 rout over Hungary in a World Cup qualifier.

Depay opened the scoring for the Netherlands against Malta in the ninth minute from the penalty spot, before adding a quick second and his 50th Oranje goal with a thunderous and record-tying strike in the 16th minute.

The Corinthians striker opened his account for the Netherlands at the 2014 World Cup with a famous strike from distance, which earned Oranje a critical 3-2 win over the Socceroos. Depay, who debuted for the Netherlands under Louis van Gaal during a World Cup qualifier against Turkey in November 2013, added a second goal to his tally in the following group stage match against Chile.

After Robin van Persie retired from international football in 2017, Memphis gradually moved from the left wing to the striker position during a difficult time, as Oranje fell into a hole by missing out on the 2018 World Cup after failing to qualify for EURO 2016.

The positional move paid off soon enough for the former Manchester United forward: in his first 15 Netherlands games as the focal point of the attack, Depay scored eight goals, equalling his tally from his first 35 caps.

Record year

Depay wrote history in 2021 by scoring 17 goals in one calendar year – the most for a Netherlands international in a calendar year. Two of those goals came at EURO 2020, his second major tournament with the Dutch national team.

Memphis broke the barrier of 100 Oranje caps during the UEFA Nations League quarter-final tie in and against Spain, which the Netherlands lost on penalties. The striker became the tenth player in Dutch history to win a century of caps. Memphis tied the scoring record in his 102nd Dutch cap – the same amount Robin van Persie retired with.