Dries Mertens is hanging up his boots after a storied career but still has a business left to do with ex-Napoli captain Marek Hamsik and other stars.
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Mertens confirms retirement at 38 after Galatasaray exitFinal appearance scheduled for Hamsik’s jubilee match in JulyBelgian forward retires as Napoli’s all-time top scorerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Mertens officially announced his retirement from professional football in a video message posted on social media. The 28-year-old forward, who recently parted ways with Galatasaray, will play his final match during Marek Hamsik’s jubilee event in Bratislava.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Mertens exits the professional sport after a decorated career across European leagues. He began with Utrecht before starring at PSV, and then became Napoli's all-time top scorer with 148 goals in 397 appearances. Closing out his career with a three-season tenure at Galatasaray, he helped the team win the Super Lig title three times along with a Turkish Cup and a Super Cup.
Internationally, Mertens played a key role in Belgium’s golden generation, earning 109 caps and scoring 21 goals between 2011 and 2022.
WHAT MERTENS SAID
Mertens said on playing with Hamsik in his retirement video: "I can't wait to play the last match with you. I have stopped playing football but for the last time, I will put on my shoes just for you. For me, you will always remain my captain and the strongest man I have played with."
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?
According to TRHaber, Mertens will feature in the “Foreigners XI” alongside players such as Edinson Cavani, Pepe Reina, Jose Callejon, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Diego Maradona Jr. They will face a Slovakia XI including Martin Skrtel, Milan Skriniar, and Stanislav Lobotka. Celebrating Hamsik's outstanding career with Napoli and Trabzonspor, the game will take place in Bratislava in July.