Dries Mertens, born on 6 May 1987, is a Belgian professional footballer known for his versatility as a forward or winger. Nicknamed “Ciro,” he began his career with Stade Leuven, Anderlecht, and Gent, making a mark during a loan spell with Eendracht Aalst. His move to AGOVV Apeldoorn in 2006 led to a transfer to Utrecht and later PSV Eindhoven, where he won the KNVB Cup and Johan Cruyff Shield in 2012. In 2013, Mertens joined Napoli for €9.6 million, becoming the club’s all-time top goalscorer with 122 goals. His achievements with Napoli include winning the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana. Internationally, Mertens debuted for Belgium in 2011 and has since earned over 100 caps, contributing to their third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup. He was named Belgian Footballer of the Year in 2016.