Former Netherlands star questions Corinthians striker’s big-game impact | OneFootball

Ruud Gullit, one of the biggest names in the history of Dutch football, commented on Memphis Depay’s possible role in the 2026 World Cup. The former player raised questions about the Corinthians forward’s impact in decisive moments, drawing a parallel with Neymar, who is also facing uncertainty regarding his physical condition.

“We don’t know (whether he will be decisive at the World Cup). He is injured, just like Neymar. The question is the same: do you take a player who is not fit? Or who hasn’t been playing well? We need a good Memphis. If he is ready, great, we really want him. But today he is a question mark, and the same thing is happening with Neymar,” he said in an interview with O Globo.

Photo: Rafal Oleksiewicz/Getty Images

Frequently called up by Ronald Koeman, Memphis missed the last FIFA international break after suffering a grade 2 injury to his right thigh in a match against Flamengo on March 22. Even as the Dutch national team’s all-time top scorer, with 55 goals, the player was the target of a critical analysis by Gullit, who questioned the weight of his goals throughout his career.

“But it’s not about quantity, it’s about timing. When you talk about Maradona or Pelé, you remember the decisive goals. I want to see Memphis and Neymar scoring goals in games that stay in the memory. That’s what turns a player into one of the greats. If I ask you right now what his most important goals are, which goals do you remember? Maybe you would hesitate. And that’s what they need to build. It’s not criticism. It’s a path. Think about Bergkamp: do you remember an incredible goal from him?” he said.

After years playing in European football, Memphis arrived at Corinthians in September 2024, with a contract running until mid-2026. Since then, he has totaled 77 matches, 20 goals and 15 assists, in addition to important titles such as the 2025 Campeonato Paulista, the 2025 Copa do Brasil and the 2026 Supercopa.

Gullit also commented on the fact that the forward plays in Brazil, but downplayed the influence of that in his assessment. For him, the determining factor continues to be the athlete’s on-field performance and physical condition.

“The Brazilian league is good, it has good players, but that is not the main point. What happens is that, historically, Brazilians, and many others, want to play in Europe, because that is where the highest competitive level is. That said, Brazil will always have talent. Football there is different, more technical, influenced by the climate and the rhythm of the game. But quality is never lacking. In Memphis’ case, it is difficult to evaluate precisely because we do not always closely follow the Brazilian Championship. But in the end, it is not about where he plays, it is about how he plays. If he is fit and performing well, he can arrive strong for the World Cup,” he analyzed.

Another point addressed was the forward’s life off the pitch, as since 2017 he has also devoted himself to music and recently released content linked to Corinthians. For Gullit, however, sporting performance remains the main evaluation criterion.

“If you play well, everyone accepts it. They may even find it strange, disagree with it, but they accept it. The problem is when that comes without performance. If you choose that lifestyle, you need to deliver on the pitch,” he added.

At 32, Memphis is still undergoing treatment to return to the pitch and is expected to miss Corinthians’ match against Vasco da Gama next Sunday. Before the World Cup begins, the club will still have 11 matches ahead.

The Netherlands are in Group F of the 2026 World Cup, alongside Japan, Sweden and Tunisia. The competition will begin on June 11, and the Dutch national team will play its first match on the 14th against Japan.

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