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Frenkie de Jong has fired back at those questioning his performances, but does the Barcelona midfielder truly belong in the same class as Declan Rice and Vitinha? Former Netherlands striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has shared his view, explaining where De Jong still needs to sharpen his game to be considered among the elite.

Many football fans and analysts hold the 29-year-old in high regard, even though much of his contribution often goes unnoticed. Unlike Arsenal’s all-action midfielder Declan Rice or Paris Saint-Germain playmaker Vitinha, who is known for his incisive passing, De Jong’s game is more subtle and focused on control and balance.

The Dutchman recently responded to criticism, particularly from within his home country, saying: “I get the feeling that many people don’t really understand football. They watch it, but they don’t truly grasp it. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, because it allows everyone to have an opinion, but it’s the reality.”

He added: “Some people say I don’t play enough through balls, but that’s simply not true. They just aren’t paying attention. It depends on the game and the situation. You can attempt a through pass, but sometimes it would only end up with the goalkeeper. Maybe I should sit down with some of these people to explain. It also depends on timing — whether a teammate is making the right run or not.”

De Jong continued: “In the Netherlands, we could appreciate our players a bit more. Of course, criticism is fine when someone doesn’t have a good game. That’s part of football. But often, it’s so exaggerated here.”

When asked whether De Jong is underappreciated, Hasselbaink, speaking to GOAL on behalf of 10bet, said: “He’s a very good player. He’s one of the key figures for the Dutch national team and extremely important for them. Personally, I think he’s slightly behind Declan Rice, but that might be because I watch Rice every week in England, while I don’t get to see De Jong play as often.”

He continued: “From what he’s shown at the World Cup so far, sometimes he needs to move the ball quicker. He tends to hold onto it a bit too long for my liking. But he’s still a top-quality player who has an excellent understanding of the game.”

De Jong has spent the past seven years at Barcelona, making 297 appearances and winning three La Liga titles. Despite multiple approaches from Manchester United, he has consistently chosen to remain at Camp Nou. Hasselbaink, who played in both the Premier League and La Liga, believes there’s a deeper reason behind that loyalty.

“I think he’s an Ajax player at heart,” Hasselbaink explained. “Ajax and Barcelona have always shared a special bond through Johan Cruyff’s legacy. De Jong was the main man at Ajax at a young age, so it was natural for him to choose Barcelona. Once you make it there, it’s hard to find a bigger challenge. I think it was always destined to be Barcelona for him.”

Currently, De Jong is representing the Netherlands at the 2026 World Cup, where his team burst into life with a dominant 5-1 win over Sweden after a 2-2 draw with Japan in their opening match. Brian Brobbey scored twice in that victory, helping the Dutch move closer to securing a place in the last 32.

Top spot in Group F will be sealed if the Netherlands defeat Tunisia in Kansas City on Thursday. However, it’s uncertain how much De Jong will play, as he’s been managing a minor injury and will be cautious about his fitness ahead of the knockout stages.