Dries Mertens
A diminutive Belgian attacker who became Napoli's all-time top scorer with a knack for spectacular goals and infectious energy.
Born 1987 (age 39)·Belgian footballer·Birthday: May 6·Millennials
Biography
Dries Mertens' football journey is a story of relentless adaptation and explosive payoff. Starting his professional career in the Dutch Eredivisie with Utrecht and PSV, he was a quick, tricky winger known for his pace. His 2013 move to Napoli, however, unlocked a different dimension. Under Maurizio Sarri, he was transformed into a central striker, a role he made his own with a stunning 28-goal season in 2016-17. His partnership with Marek Hamšík and Lorenzo Insigne became the creative heartbeat of a thrilling Napoli side that challenged Juventus's Serie A dominance. Mertens, affectionately nicknamed 'Ciro' by the Neapolitan fans, didn't just play for the club; he embodied its spirit—undersized, technically brilliant, and fiercely passionate. He left as the club's record goalscorer, a status cemented not just by numbers but by a catalogue of audacious chips, volleys, and free-kicks that captured his unique flair.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Dries was born in 1987, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Dries Was Born
The biggest hits of 1987
#1 Movie
Three Men and a Baby
Best Picture
The Last Emperor
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Dries's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1987Born
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1992Started school
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2000Became a teenager
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Could drive
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2005Could vote
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2008Turned 21
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2017Turned 30
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 39 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became S.S.C. Napoli's all-time leading goalscorer with 148 goals for the club.
- Won the Coppa Italia twice with Napoli in 2014 and 2020.
- Earned over 100 caps for the Belgian national team, representing them at multiple FIFA World Cups and UEFA European Championships.
- Named in the UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season for the 2014–15 campaign.
Did You Know?
His nickname 'Ciro' is a traditional Neapolitan name given to him by fans, linking him deeply to the local culture.
He is fluent in Dutch, French, English, and Italian.
Before focusing on football, he worked part-time as a waiter in his youth.
He scored a hat-trick in his first Serie A start as a center forward for Napoli against Torino in 2016.
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