Sporting greats receiving fitting honors from their nation is no surprise. Cristiano Ronaldo has an airport named after him in Portugal. Numerous stars have their statues and busts built in their countries as a tribute. What comes as a surprise is a country printing a currency note to thank a sports icon for their contributions. In a novel move, the Netherlands is planning to immortalize soccer legend Dennis Bergkamp in a new bank note.

During his storied stint at the Netherlands national team and Arsenal, Dennis Bergkamp has scored some of the greatest goals the beautiful game has seen. Turns out, the Dutch can reminisce about one of his classic goals each time a certain currency note changes hands.

Netherlands to immortalize Dennis Bergkamp’s goal in a new banknote

According to Olt Sports, the Dutch treasury has instructed their currency minting company, the Royal Enschede Company, to print a unique eight-euro currency note. The eight-euro note will include the images of Dennis Bergkamp in Dutch colors from the 1998 World Cup. Furthermore, the note will also feature an image of him scoring a 90th minute strike which sealed Argentina’s fate in the 1998 World Cup quarterfinals. The goal has been coloring the imagination of the Dutch ever since.

Dennis Bergkamp is now set to be honoured by having one of his greatest goals embossed on a new banknote.

The Dutch treasury have instructed the Royal Enschede printing company responsible for minting Holland’s currency to produce a unique eight-euro note. The banknote will…

— Olt Sports (@oltsport_) December 12, 2023

Apart from being a clutch strike, the goal is also celebrated as a classic example of ball control and finishing. Bergkamp had then received a 60-yard aerial pass from Frank de Boer. The former brought the ball down through opponent Roberto Ayala’s legs and unleashed a lethal volley with the outside of his foot. The Dutch receive all the appreciation for immortalizing this gold standard of a goal for the generations. Meanwhile, this is not the first time fitting tributes have come the legendary striker’s way. Let us now look at how Arsenal honored the icon.

When Arsenal honored Bergkamp

Dennis Bergkamp has donned Arsenal’s hat during the legendary Arsene Wenger era. From partaking in Arsenal’s ‘undefeated’ campaign to scoring as spectacular as the aforementioned goals, Bergkamp etched his name in gold in the Gunners’ lore. Apparently, the club honored him in 2014 by unveiling a statue at their home stadium.

The statue depicts the veteran in action, stretching his right foot fully to stop an air-borne pass. It is indeed enthralling to note the striking similarity between the moments immortalized in Holland’s eight-euro notes and the statue at the Emirates Stadium. Club or country, Bergkamp’s poetic gameplay remained the same. What are your thoughts on this rare honor? Tell us in the comments below.

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