Belgian · Leuven, Belgium · Born 6 May 1987Napoli's all-time top scorer and a beloved figure in Naples, whose goalscoring transformed him from journeyman winger to club legend.
Dries Mertens was born on 6 May 1987 in Leuven, Belgium, and progressed through the youth ranks of Stade Leuven, Anderlecht, and Gent before making his professional debut and working his way up through Belgian and Dutch football via loan spells and lower-league clubs, including AGOVV Apeldoorn and Utrecht. Mertens' clinical finishing and technical quality, especially given his diminutive 1.69-metre frame, earned him a move to PSV Eindhoven in 2011, where he won the Dutch Cup and Johan Cruyff Shield, before Napoli signed him in 2013 for a modest €9.6 million fee — a transfer that would prove to be one of the most successful of his career. Over nine seasons at Napoli, nicknamed "Ciro" by adoring supporters, Mertens became a beloved figure in the city, renowned for his energetic wing play, clever movement, and a signature scissor-kick goal celebration. In 2020, he surpassed Marek Hamšík to become Napoli's all-time leading goalscorer, finishing his time at the club with 148 goals across nearly 400 appearances — a franchise record that may stand for a generation. Mertens represented Belgium at the 2014 and 2018 World Cups, helping the country's celebrated "golden generation" reach the semi-finals in Russia in 2018, where Belgium finished third. He earned dozens of caps for his country before finishing his club career with a spell at Turkish giants Galatasaray, retiring in 2025 as one of the most beloved foreign players in Napoli's history.
Becoming Napoli's all-time leading scorer with 148 goals
The Neapolitan fans loved him so much they gave him the local name 'Ciro' — one of Naples' most traditional names — as a sign of their complete adoption of the Belgian as one of their own.
Did You Know?How They Played
Versatile attacking player who evolved from pacy winger to clinical finisher with excellent technical ability
Lasting Impact
Transformed from winger to prolific goalscorer and became a Napoli legend
Career Honours
- Coppa Italia 2020
| Club | Period | Fee | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gent | 2005–2007 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Eendracht Aalst | 2005–2006 | loan | 14 | 4 |
| AGOVV | 2006–2007 | loan | 35 | 2 |
| AGOVV | 2007–2009 | — | 73 | 28 |
| Utrecht | 2009–2011 | — | 69 | 17 |
| PSV Eindhoven | 2011–2013 | — | 62 | 37 |
| Napoli | 2013–2022 | — | 295 | 113 |
| Galatasaray | 2022–2025 | — | 100 | 20 |
 Belgium | — | — | 109 | 21 |
Belgian Athletes