Depay thanks former Real Madrid and Barcelona stars after becoming Dutch all-time top scorer

Memphis Depay has etched his name into Dutch football history, becoming the Netherlands’ all-time leading goalscorer after a brace against Lithuania sealed a dramatic 3-2 victory in the World Cup qualifiers.

The 30-year-old forward, now plying his trade at Corinthians in Brazil, surpassed Robin van Persie’s record of 50 international goals, a milestone he described as one of the proudest moments of his career.

Depay had been tied with Van Persie since June after scoring twice against Malta, but his big moment came just 11 minutes into Sunday’s clash when he slotted home to set a new record outright.

As Lithuania fought back from two goals down to level at 2-2, Depay once again rose to the occasion, scoring the decisive header that ensured the Dutch stayed on course in their World Cup qualification campaign.

Speaking after the match, Depay was quick to highlight his pride in the achievement. “I’m super proud and very glad I got past Robin [Van Persie]. I thanked everyone in the dressing room,” he said.

Having faced criticism over consistency throughout his career, the striker hit back with a smile: “People often say, ‘What are we supposed to do with our striker position?’ But we actually have a striker who scores a lot of goals. I try to let my feet do the talking; they’re not going to get rid of me just yet.”

Depay also used the historic moment to acknowledge the influence of past Dutch greats, many of whom were global stars with Real Madrid and Barcelona.

He specifically paid tribute to Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Arjen Robben, who played for Real Madrid, and Patrick Kluivert, a Blaugrana legend, crediting them for inspiring his own journey with the national team.

“I also want to thank old teammates like Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Arjen Robben, for example. They inspired me. The same goes for Patrick Kluivert. It was because of him that I wanted to reach the Dutch national team,” Depay noted.

His words underlined not only his personal pride but also the continuity of Dutch football tradition, where each generation drives the next.