Former Belgian striker Dries Mertens has announced his retirement from professional football, as his contract with Galatasaray is set to end this month.
The 38-year-old posted a video on social media on Sunday announcing his retirement but also stating that he would participate in an exhibition match in July organised by former Napoli teammate Marek Hamsik.
Mertens holds the record as Napoli’s all-time leading goalscorer with 148 goals.
While at the club, he secured two Italian Cups before moving to Galatasaray, where he claimed three consecutive Turkish Super Lig titles starting in 2022.
Mertens played his final match for the national team in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where Belgium was eliminated in the group stage, and he netted 21 goals for his country.
