Frenkie de Jong, 29, is a key midfielder for the Netherlands who has missed many games over the past two years due to injuries, limiting him to 64 international caps [1, 2].
De Jong missed Euro 2024 after suffering an ankle injury that sidelined him for nearly six months. He described missing the tournament as "the toughest period of my life," adding, "For someone like me, that is eternity." He recounted an earlier injury in 2018 at Ajax, when he tore ligaments in his other ankle just before his initial national team call-up, saying, "I tried to block a ball and landed wrong... But that was nothing compared to this one" [1, 2].
Most recently, De Jong missed the last two Netherlands internationals in March 2026 with a hamstring tear [1, 2]. Despite these setbacks, he remains the "engine" of the Dutch team, known for controlling play with incisive passing from midfield [1, 2].
De Jong also reached a milestone in May 2026, becoming the Dutch player with the most appearances for Barcelona with 293 matches. He helped Barcelona retain the La Liga title last month, even though he missed several games [1, 2].
Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman said the team is "not worried, although it would have been better had he played," reflecting cautious optimism about De Jong's availability [1].
De Jong helped the Netherlands qualify for the 2026 World Cup hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States. He believes the current Dutch squad has the most potential he has seen, stating, "You have got even more desire to be there and to get the most out of it. Since my time with the Dutch team, I think we now have the squad with the most potential. But we also need to make sure we become the best team" [1, 2].