World Cup 2026: Netherlands defender Jan Paul van Hecke sets three records in win against Tunisia

Dutch defender Jan Paul van Hecke produced a historic performance during the Netherlands’ victory over Tunisia, setting three new records at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Van Hecke delivered an outstanding display in the Netherlands’ final group stage match on Friday morning, helping his side secure a 3-1 victory over Tunisia and finish top of Group F.

Historic Performance Against Tunisia

The Dutch star played a central role throughout the contest and capped off his impressive outing by scoring the Netherlands’ third goal in the 62nd minute.

Beyond his goal contribution, Van Hecke dominated possession and dictated play from the back, producing statistics never before recorded at the current edition of the World Cup.

Three New World Cup Records

According to statistics shared by Squawka on its official X account, Van Hecke touched the ball 145 times during the match, the highest number recorded by any player in a single game at the 2026 World Cup.

The defender also completed 130 of his 134 attempted passes, setting another tournament record for the highest number of successful passes in a single match.

His influence extended into attacking areas as well, with Van Hecke completing 39 passes into the final third, another record for a player in one game during the ongoing tournament.

First International Goal

The memorable night became even more special for the Dutch defender after he scored his first ever international goal for the Netherlands.

His commanding display against Tunisia further underlined the Netherlands’ strength heading into the knockout rounds, where the Dutch are set to face Morocco in the Round of 32.