Rafael van der Vaart Criticized by Ex-Oranje Player

Former Dutch international Tessel Middag has publicly criticized comments made by Rafael van der Vaart regarding women's football. As of November 1, 2026, the 33-year-old midfielder, who recently retired, stated that negative opinions from figures such as Rafael van der Vaart and Ronald de Boer do not assist in the progress of the women's game.

Why it is trending now

The remarks surfaced during an interview where Middag discussed the challenges facing female footballers. Following her forced retirement due to a third cruciate ligament injury, she highlighted the disparity in the sport, noting that while the top five percent of players earn significant salaries, a large portion of professional female players still struggle with low wages and lack of protection.

Key facts

• Tessel Middag officially ended her professional football career after sustaining her third cruciate ligament injury, according to Sportnieuws.nl.
• Middag represented the Netherlands national team in 44 international matches.
• A report by the global football union FIFPRO indicates that while top-tier female players are seeing financial improvements, the vast majority of players globally remain near or below minimum wage, as cited by Sportnieuws.nl.
• Middag stated that the influence of media attention has helped grow the sport, but argued that the attitude of clubs, administrators, and former male players remains a hurdle.

Why this is trending in Netherlands

The comments are trending in the Netherlands due to the high profile of both Rafael van der Vaart and the Oranje Leeuwinnen. Tessel Middag remains a well-known figure within Dutch football circles, and her critique of prominent former national team players has sparked significant discussion regarding the support structures for women in the sport.

Background and context

Tessel Middag was part of the generation that included Lieke Martens and Stefanie van der Gragt. She noted that her career was marred by injuries that caused her to miss major milestones, such as the 2017 European Championship and the 2019 World Cup. She described the mental difficulty of watching the sport's growth from the sidelines while recovering from injuries.

What happens next

Middag has transitioned out of professional play following her injury. There are no confirmed upcoming appearances or responses from Rafael van der Vaart regarding these specific statements as of the time of writing. Discussions regarding the professionalization of the women's game in the Netherlands are expected to continue among stakeholders.