Situation Memphis compared to world star: “They’re a bit in the same lane”

After a shaky season, despite his fitness, Memphis Depay has still traveled with the Netherlands national team to the 2026 World Cup in North America. The former PSV player was allowed by head coach Ronald Koeman to come on as a substitute twice, and in doing so he made anything but a good impression.

For the journalists of De Telegraaf, Memphis’ situation with Orange is virtually the same as that of Cristiano Ronaldo with Portugal. Ronaldo could not make a big impression in Portugal’s first match against Congo (1-1) and after the game also received a barrage of criticism from international media and analysts.

''We’re talking about stars and Ronaldo’s situation also reminds a bit of Depay’s. Ronaldo has always been the great example for Depay. Depay was always the unchallenged star of the Netherlands, and he is now coming from the bench. That will likely have to happen for the time being too because Brobbey has played so well. They’re a bit in the same lane,'' says PSV watcher Jeroen Kapteijns in the De Telegraaf podcast Kick-off.

Still, Kapteijns also has some positive words after Depay's matchday against Sweden (5-1). ''As a talisman, he still has to put himself aside for the team and be important for the Netherlands national team. And of course he was that against Sweden, because on the fifth goal he also provided the assist to Summerville'', the PSV watcher said.

Colleague journalist Mike Verweij is partly in agreement with Kapteijn and fears for the career of the Portuguese world star. ''What is sad for Ronaldo, and this also applies to Depay, and that is unfortunately a football rule: you are only as good as your last match. If it ends that way for Ronaldo, then that will of course be very sad. Especially after everything he has achieved, everything he has won and all the Golden Balls'', Verweij said.