Dries Mertens

Dries Mertens, a celebrated Belgian footballer, transitioned from an impactful winger and attacking midfielder to a prolific striker, achieving significant milestones and becoming an all-time top goalscorer for Napoli. After being named Player of the Year in the Belgian Third Division in 2006, Dries Mertens embarked on a career that would see him become an all-time top goalscorer for Napoli and a celebrated figure in European football. He signed with AGOVV Apeldoorn in 2006, spending three seasons where he became a fan favorite and captain, earning the Golden Bull award for the Eerste Divisie’s most talented player in 2009. Mertens then moved to Utrecht in 2009 for €600,000, being named runner-up for Dutch Footballer of the Year and winning the Di Tommaso Trophy for Utrecht’s Player of the Season in 2010, underscoring his early impact.

In his final season (2023–24), he was the Süper Lig’s top assist provider with 18 assists, adding 9 goals. Internationally, Mertens represented the Belgian national team in over 100 appearances, participating in three FIFA World Cups (2014, 2018, 2022) and two UEFA European Championships (2016, 2020). He was instrumental in Belgium’s historic third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup and was recognized as the Belgian Footballer of the Year in 2016. On June 22, 2025, Dries Mertens announced his retirement from professional football, leaving a legacy defined by numerous club and individual accolades, including being named an honorary citizen of Naples in 2025.