Corinthians No 10 hits impressive World Cup milestone | OneFootball

Throughout the afternoon last Thursday (25), the Netherlands national team beat Tunisia 3-1 in Kansas City, United States, in a match valid for the third round of the 2026 World Cup group stage, winning by a score of 3-1. The goals were scored by Ellyes Skhiri (own goal), Brian Brobbey, and Jan Paul Vam Hecke. The three points secured the Netherlands at the top of Group E with seven points out of a possible nine — 10 goals scored and four conceded.

Corinthians forward Memphis Depay, who once again came on in the second half, reached an impressive mark for the Netherlands in World Cups, going 12 matches unbeaten in the competition (not counting penalty shootouts). The streak began in 2014, when the tournament was held in Brazil. In that edition, the Dutchman played four matches — wins over Australia (3-2), Chile (2-0), and Mexico (2-0) — in addition to a goalless draw with Costa Rica (0-0).

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In 2018, Memphis Depay did not play in the tournament, as the Netherlands failed to qualify. Four years later, in Qatar, in the most recent edition, he played five matches: wins over Senegal (2-0), Qatar (2-0), and the United States (3-1), as well as draws against Ecuador (1-1) and Argentina (2-2). At the 2026 World Cup, so far, he has played in all three matches, each time coming off the bench, in wins over Sweden (5-1) and Tunisia (3-1), in addition to the 2-2 draw against Japan in the opener. In 51 minutes played (not counting stoppage time), he provided one assist.

Memphis Depay has therefore joined a select list of players who have gone 12 World Cup matches without losing. The first of them is Zagallo, who had 10 wins and two draws between 1958 and 1962, winning the tournament with Brazil on both occasions. Next is Julio Olarticoechea, who recorded eight wins and four draws between 1986 (champion) and 1990. The third is Daley Blind. The defender totaled eight wins and four draws between 2014 and 2022.

Now, Ronald Koeman’s side will return to the field next Tuesday (30) at 10 p.m. Brasília time, when they will face Morocco, who finished as runners-up in Group C (Brazil’s group), in the Round of 32. The match will take place in Mexico.

Memphis Depay’s current moment

Corinthians’ No. 10 is having a season below expectations. In 14 matches for Timão in 2026, he has one goal and one assist. Between late March and the end of May, Memphis was sidelined as he recovered from a grade 2 muscle injury suffered in a match against Flamengo in Itaquera in the eighth round of the Brasileirão.

Between the injury diagnosis and the start of the World Cup, Memphis Depay played in only two matches for Corinthians, one coming off the bench (Atlético-MG — Brasileirão) and the other starting (Platense-ARG — Conmebol Libertadores), but he was substituted by Fernando Diniz right at halftime. He is under contract with Alvinegro until the end of July, and there is still no decision regarding his future at Parque São Jorge.

Memphis Depay’s numbers for Corinthians

Signed in September 2024 after not having his contract renewed by Atlético de Madrid of Spain, Memphis Depay arrived at Corinthians and immediately played a key role in the team’s surge in the previous Brazilian Championship edition (from the relegation zone to the Libertadores qualifying rounds), scoring seven goals and providing one assist in 11 matches in the national tournament.

Last season and at the start of this one, he was decisive in the title wins of the Campeonato Paulista (2025), Copa do Brasil (2025), and Supercopa do Brasil (2026), totaling two assists in those finals and playing an important role in the earlier knockout rounds. Wearing the Corinthians shirt, he has 20 goals and 15 assists in 79 matches.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.