Belgian forward Dries Mertens has officially announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 38, bringing down the curtain on a remarkable career spanning nearly two decades, MySportDab Reports.
Mertens confirmed the news in a heartfelt video on social media, stating, “I’m leaving football, but I’ll put my boots on one last time for you,” addressing close friend and former Napoli teammate Marek Hamsik ahead of a charity match in July.
Capped 109 times by Belgium, Mertens scored 21 goals for the Red Devils and made his final international appearance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
His journey began in Belgium with Eendracht Aalst, where he was loaned from Gent, before moving to the Netherlands and making a name at FC Utrecht and PSV Eindhoven.
However, it was at Napoli where Mertens truly cemented his legacy. Between 2013 and 2022, he became the club’s all-time leading scorer with 148 goals in 397 appearances.
Revered in Naples, he was affectionately nicknamed “Ciro” by fans—a name he later gave to his son. On June 6, 2025, he was named an honorary citizen of the city.
Mertens spent his final three seasons with Turkish giants Galatasaray, winning three Super Lig titles and achieving a domestic double in 2025.
Over the course of his career, he lifted several trophies including the KNVB Beker and Johan Cruyff Shield with PSV, two Coppa Italia titles with Napoli, and multiple domestic honours in Turkey.
As Mertens steps away from the pitch, he leaves behind a legacy of flair, loyalty, and goalscoring excellence that has earned him iconic status in Naples and deep respect across the football world.
