Alex Meret
A commanding Italian goalkeeper whose steady hands and crucial saves anchored Napoli's first Serie A title in over three decades.
Born 1997 (age 29)·Italian footballer·Birthday: March 22·Generation Z
Biography
Alex Meret's path to becoming a title-winning goalkeeper was one of patience and precision. A product of Udinese's academy, his potential was clear early, leading to a high-profile move to Napoli in 2018. His initial seasons were punctuated by injury and competition for the starting spot, testing his resilience. Meret is not a flashy, highlight-reel shot-stopper; his game is built on intelligent positioning, calm distribution, and an almost preternatural sense of anticipation. These qualities came to the fore during Napoli's spectacular 2022-23 Scudetto campaign. As the last line of defense behind a thrilling attacking team, his consistency was paramount. He provided crucial stability, making decisive saves in tight matches and embodying the cool-headed mentality required to close out a historic championship. His performances cemented his status as Italy's number one, a keeper who wins through quiet authority.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Alex was born in 1997, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alex Was Born
The biggest hits of 1997
#1 Movie
Titanic
Best Picture
Titanic
#1 TV Show
ER
Alex's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1997Born
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2002Started school
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2010Became a teenager
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Could drive
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2015Could vote
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2018Turned 21
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 29 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Serie A title with Napoli in the 2022-23 season, the club's first league championship in 33 years.
- Member of the Italy national team that won UEFA Euro 2020, serving as a backup goalkeeper.
- Won the Coppa Italia with Napoli in the 2019-20 season.
Did You Know?
He kept a clean sheet in his senior debut for Udinese in a 3-0 win over Palermo in 2016.
Meret is known for his skill with the ball at his feet, a key attribute in Napoli's possession-based style.
He was born in Udine, Italy, and joined Udinese's youth system at the age of nine.
“A clean sheet is not just my success; it is the work of the whole team.”
