Earlier this month, Memphis Depay bagged a brace against Lithuania in the recent round of World Cup Qualifiers, becoming the Netherlands men’s national team’s all-time top scorer. With 52 goals in 104 games, he holds the crown as the nation’s most prolific bagsman.
But this isn’t Memphis’ only legacy in the game.
Renowned for his creativity and flair, the forward has always been jinky on the pitch. From his trims to his recent headband renaissance and his iconic low socks, Memphis has always been the star of the show.
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But it’s off the pitch where he’s made an even greater impact.
A pioneer of athlete self-expression through music, Memphis was dropping freestyles way back in 2017, using music as a vehicle to control his own narrative. Since then, Memphis has continued to grow, amassing 1 million subscribers and over 130 million streams across YouTube and Spotify.
In his 2018 single ‘No Love,’ he raps passionately about being “In Ghana, giving back to the deaf and blind.” The Memphis Foundation in Ghana works to empower deaf and blind young people through sports and music, an admirable cause spearheaded by a national hero.
In the same track he shares becoming “deaf and blind to the bullsh*t,” a clear reference to the criticism he’s faced in his career, most notably when Wayne Rooney reprimanded the youngster for rocking up to a reserve game in a Rolls-Royce and fedora.
One of the first to blur the lines between the two industries, he’s played a vital role in the latest wave of ballers stepping into the booth.
With the heart of a lion, and an impressive back tattoo to match, Memphis has consolidated himself as the voice of the streets since making the move to Corinthians in Brazil. Embracing the local culture, he’s been moving like Adriano, from getting his hair braided in the ends to dropping an EP with São Paulo-born artist MC Hariel, ‘Falando com as Favelas.’
Given Brazilian culture’s reverence of ‘joga bonito’ and ‘ousadia e alegria’ (boldness and joy), it’s only right that in the latter stage of his career Memphis finds himself at home, embraced by the locals as one of their own.
Despite releasing his autobiography ‘Heart of a Lion’ back in 2020, Memphis’ story is far from over. And as he continues to “walk in faith not by sight,” leading the new wave of ballers in the booth, you can be sure that his influence on the game and the next generation will only grow.
From fashion, music, to lifestyle, Memphis has consistently been setting the tone and paving the way. Unrelenting in expressing himself, he’s played a vital role in the cultural shift towards self-expression in the modern game. Breaking new ground through his music, Memphis walked so the latest wave of ballers could run.
Dank je Memphis
