Netherlands: Virgil van Dijk, the improbable offensive consistency of an exceptional defender

World Cup 2026 Today at 18:04

Nouya M'toama

News Editor

Virgil van Dijk continues to push the boundaries of what it means to be a central defender. Against Japan, the Netherlands captain once again found the back of the net at the World Cup, showcasing a remarkable attacking consistency on the biggest stage.

Van Dijk was on the scoresheet this Sunday for the Netherlands against Japan. With this goal, at 34 years and 341 days old, the Dutchman becomes the second-oldest goalscorer in Oranje history at the World Cup, just behind Giovanni van Bronckhorst, who remains at the top of this ranking after scoring at 35 years and 151 days against Uruguay.

Van Dijk’s international season tells the same story. With four goals for the Netherlands, he's enjoying his most prolific campaign ever for the national team. More broadly, his career stats only reinforce his unique status.

The defender now boasts 78 official goals, with only one coming from the penalty spot—an outstanding tally for a player who has spent most of his career at the heart of the defense. This clinical edge is a reminder of his early days as a forward before rising to become one of the world’s best defenders.