At 4-0 against Copenhagen
©IMAGO
Tottenham’s central defender Micky van de Ven delighted the spectators, teammates and coach Thomas Frank with a crazy solo run against FC Copenhagen. The 24-year-old, who moved from VfL Wolfsburg to London for 40 million euros in the summer of 2023, was the dominant topic of conversation after the 4-0 win in the Champions League against the Danes. He received the ball in his own penalty area – and was unstoppable until he successfully scored past keeper Dominik Kotarski.
“It seems as if Lionel Messi has turned into Micky van de Ven, sprinting from his own goal to the other end of the pitch to score,” Spurs coach Frank said at the press conference after the final whistle. “He’s our top scorer in all competitions, he can keep going!”
Goals are indeed nothing new for van de Ven, after all, he has already scored nine in his 66 appearances for Tottenham, six of them in the 16 games in 2025/26. As a central defender, mind you. Within the team, Bayern loanee João Palhinha and Rotsünder Johnson follow with four goals each. However, that goal to make it 3-0 against Copenhagen in the 64th minute – especially when they were outnumbered after Brennan Johnson was sent off (57th) – was a very special one.
Tottenham’s van de Ven explains his solo run: ‘Incredible feeling’
“I started dribbling and wanted to see if they would catch me, but they didn’t,” revealed defender Messi van de Ven on “TNT Sports”. “I felt good and had an incredible feeling during the sprint, I felt like I could keep running.” Former professional Owen Hargreaves was thrilled as a TV pundit and said: “It’s one of the best goals you’ll ever see. He runs past the players as if they weren’t even there. To stay strong and then finish is unbelievable. The goal of the season – game over.”
In the Champions League, Spurs have won two and drawn two and are therefore well in the race. Which also has to do with van de Ven’s performance: “I’m very happy with Micky. I think he’s done great things for the club since he was signed and has developed further this season,” said coach Frank recently. “He’s defending even better. He’s still very good on the ball and has now scored goals, which I’m very happy about.” van de Ven’s market value was 30 million euros at the time of his transfer from the Bundesliga and has now almost doubled – to 55 million euros. In the Premier League, only five defenders are rated higher.