Matheus Luiz Nunes is a professional football player who currently plays as a midfielder for Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League and Portugal. Nunes began his professional career with Ericeirense before joining Estoril of LigaPro. In most of his tenure with the organization, he played for the reserve squad until transferring to Sporting CP of the Primeira Liga in January 2019.

Nunes was a member of the Sporting team that won a double in 2021, which earned him a spot on the 2022 Primeira Liga Team of the Year. Sporting also won back-to-back Taças da Liga in 2021 and 2022.

Matheus Nunes Bio/Wiki

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Club Career

Early Career

Born in Rio de Janeiro to a Portuguese father and a Brazilian mother, Nunes relocated with his mother and stepfather to Ericeira, Lisbon District, when he was 12 years old. He began playing football with the local team Ericeirense in the sixth level, and while he was there, he briefly assisted his family at their bakery.

In the Lisbon Football Association’s 2015–16 season, Nunes made his senior debut with Ericeirense. He began the 2017 preseason on trial with Oriental, however, due to a thigh injury, he was not signed, and he later went back to his original club.

Estoril

Nunes joined Estoril in the 2018 summer. On October 14, he made his LigaPro debut in a 2-2 tie with Varzim, beginning but departing with an injury before the conclusion of the first half. For the majority of his time there, he was a member of the reserve squad.

Sporting CP

On January 29, 2019, Nunes signed a five-and-a-half-year contract with Sporting CP of the Primeira Liga for a €500,000 fee for half of his economic rights and a €45 million buyout clause. Sporting’s scouting team was impressed by Nunes’ performances for Estoril against Sporting in the Taça da Liga group stage during the 2018–19 season and decided to sign him.

Following his time with the club’s under-23 squad, Rben Amorim gave Nunes his first call-up to the first team on June 4, 2020. He made his debut in the 2-2 draw with Vitória de Guimares in the Primeira Liga that day as a second-half substitute. On October 23, he agreed to a contract extension for an additional year, raising his buyout clause from €45 million to €60 million.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Nunes surpassed his fellow countryman and previous record-holder Fábio Silva when he signed a five-year deal with English Premier League team Wolverhampton Wanderers on August 17, 2022, for a club-record transfer fee of €45 million (£38 million).

Three days later, on August 20, 2022, Nunes made his Premier League debut for Wolves as a starter in a 1-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. On August 28, 2022, Nunes made his home Premier League debut against Newcastle United in a 1-1 draw at Molineux.

International Career

After ten years of residing in the nation, Nunes received a Portuguese passport on August 8, 2021. Later that month, on his 23rd birthday, he was called up by Brazil national team manager Tite as one of nine replacements for the players based in the United Kingdom, for three 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Chile, Argentina, and Peru; he declined the call because he would have been subject to quarantine upon his return due to not having the full COVID.

Nunes was called up by Santos on September 30, 2021, for a friendly match against Qatar and World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg. He earned his first cap on October 9, starting the 3-0 friendly victory over Qatar in the Algarve. He scored his first goal for his country on March 22, 2022, in a 3-1 home victory over Turkey in the qualification play-offs.

Awards

Sporting CP

• Primeira Liga: 2020–21
• Taça da Liga: 2020–21, 2021–22
• Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2021

Individual

• Primeira Liga Midfielder of the Month: October/November 2021
• Primeira Liga Team of the Year: 2021–22

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Matheus Nunes Net Worth

The range of Matheus Nunes’s net worth or income is thought to be between $3 Million. However, his major occupation as a soccer player has brought him a significant amount of wealth.

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Matheus Nunes FIFA 22 Stats

In FIFA 22, Matheus Nunes has an overall rating of 79 and his potential is also 86.

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FAQs

Amine Harit, a professional footballer who now plays for both the Moroccan national team and Ligue 1 club Marseille on loan from Schalke 04, was born on June 18, 1997. He was born and raised in France, where he played for the youth national teams of France at different levels before transferring to Morocco and joining their team.

At the age of six, Harit started playing football. Before transferring to Nates in 2012, he had previously played for clubs such as Argenteuil C.O., Esperance Paris19eme, Paris Saint-Germain, and Red Star.

However, he had other interests outside football; as a youngster, he was an excellent swimmer. His father was the one who first got him interested in swimming, and up to the age of 14, he belonged to a swimming club.

Amine Harit Bio/Wiki

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Amine Harit Personal Life

Harit practices Islam. In 2018, he was engaged in an automobile accident in Marrakesh that resulted in the death of a 30-year-old man. He is married and has two kids, the first of whom is a girl with a name that starts with A. Hamza Mendyl and he are good pals as well.

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Club Career

Nantes

On August 13, 2016, Harit played in his first game for the Ligue 1 team against Dijon. He participated fully in the 1-0 away victory.

Schalke 04

Harit was signed by Schalke 04 to a four-year contract on July 10, 2017. According to reports, Nantes received a transfer fee of €8 million, which might increase to €10 million with incentives. On August 14, he played his first game for the German team against BFC Dynamo in a DFB-Pokal match. He came off the field at halftime in a 2-0 away victory.

As Schalke overcame a 4-0 deficit to tie 4-4 with rivals Borussia Dortmund in a historic Revierderby game on November 25, 2017, Harit scored his first-ever Bundesliga goal. He won the title of “Bundesliga Rookie of the Year” for the 2017–18 campaign after being selected “Rookie of the Month” for the Bundesliga in December 2017.

Loan to Marseille

Harit was officially revealed to go on loan to Ligue 1 team Marseille for the 2021–2022 Ligue 1 season on September 2, 2021. In a 2-0 Ligue 1 road victory over Monaco, he made his professional debut for the French team and provided an assist for the second goal.

He entered the game against Rennes in the 59th minute and scored his first goal for OM 12 minutes later. He scored the game-winning goal in a 3-2 victory against Nantes at home on April 20, 2022. He consented to return to Marseille on 1 September 2022 for a season-long loan with the possibility of a permanent transfer.

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International Career

From the France U18s to the France U21s, Harit played for the national youth teams of France. He turned down a call-up to the Morocco U19s in October 2015. He is of Moroccan heritage. On September 12, 2017, Harit made the decision to support the Moroccan national team instead.

In the 90th minute of Morocco’s 3-0 victory against Gabon on October 7, 2017, Harit made his international debut for his country, replacing Nordin Amrabat. The match was a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier. He was included in Morocco’s 23-man roster for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia in May of that year.

Amine Harit Awards

France U19

• UEFA European Under-19 Championship: 2016

Individual

• UEFA European Under-19 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2016
• Bundesliga Rookie of the Year: 2017–18
• Bundesliga Player of the Month: September 2019

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Amine Harit Net Worth

Harit’s net worth as of 2023 was around $24 million, primarily derived from his professional football career. Amine Harit, a 25-year-old player for Schalke 04, is now given a weekly wage of $28,241, or more than $1.4 million annually. His estimated market worth at the moment is €22 million.

Harit earns a respectable income outside of his football career through endorsement deals with many companies, including Adidas.

Amine Harit FIFA 22 Stats

In FIFA 22, Amine Harit has an overall rating of 75 and his potential is also 78.

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FAQs

Dutch footballer Daley Blind is a professional footballer who plays for Ajax and the Netherlands national team as a defensive midfielder, left-back, or center-back. His father Danny Blind is a former Ajax defender and former manager of the Netherlands national football team. Blind made his name at Ajax in the youth ranks, before becoming a regular after a loan move to Groningen. He won four consecutive Eredivisie titles with Ajax.

Having transferred to Manchester United for £13.8 million in September 2014, he was part of the team that won four trophies including the FA Cup, EFL Cup, and UEFA Europa League while there. Blind returned to Ajax in the summer of 2018 where he won his fifth Eredivisie title and won his first-ever KNVB Cup in the club’s first season back. As a full international since 2013, Blind has played 90 times for the Netherlands and was part of the team that finished third at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, as well as at the UEFA Euro 2020.

Daley Blind Bio/Wiki

Birth Name	Daley Blind
Nick Name	Scholletje Junior
Age	33 (as in 2023) Years
Religion	Not Available
Sun Sign/Zodiac Sign	Pisces
Born Place	Amsterdam, Netherlands
Date of Birth	9 March 1990
Nationality	Dutch
Residence	Amsterdam, Netherlands
Home Town	Amsterdam, Netherlands
Food Habit	Vegetarian
Hobbies	Watching Movies, Horse Riding
Family
Mother’s Name	Yvonne Blind
Father’s Name	Danny Blind
Brother(s)	None
Sister(s)	• Frenkie Blind • Zola Blind
Girlfriends/Affairs
Affairs/Girlfriends	Candy-Rae Fleur
Marital Status, Wife and Children
Wife/Spouse	Candy-Rae Fleur (to be)
Children	Daughters- 1- Name Not Available Sons- Lowen Dace Blind
Education
School	Not Available
College/University	Not Available
Educational Qualification	Graduated
Profession	Professional Footballer
Brands Endorsed	Adidas
Career Manager/ Player Agent	SEG
Football Career
Debut Club	• July 2018: AFC Ajax (return back) • September 1, 2014: Manchester United F.C. • 2010: FC Groningen • 2008: AFC Ajax
Debut International	• 2013: Netherlands national football team
Jersey Number	• 17 (Ajax Amsterdam) • 17 (Netherlands national football team)
Current Team(s)	• Ajax Amsterdam • Netherlands national football team
Coach/Mentor	Alfred Schreuder
Position	Defender – Left-Back
Foot	Left
Strengths	• Tackling • Interceptions • Marking • Jumping • Passing • Crossing
Weaknesses	• Strength • Heading • Balance
Achievements	Not Available
Height, Weight, and Figure Measurements
Height (Approx.)	in centimeters- 180 cm in meters- 1.80 m in feet inches- 5’11”
Weight (Approx.)	in kilograms- 72 kg in pounds- 159 lbs
Figure Measurements
Chest Size	40 inches
Biceps Size	13 inches
Waist Size	34 inches
Extra Ordinary Features
Race / Ethnicity	Dutch
Hair Color	Dark Brown
Eye Color	Dark Brown
S*xual Orientation	Straight
Distinctive Features	Not Available
Dress Size	9 U.S.
Shoe Size	11 U.S.
Favourite Things
Favorite Playing Position	Defender
Favorite Car	Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
Favorite Food	Fruits and Veg
Favorite Drinks	Coffee
Favorite Color	Blue
Favorite Cell Phone/Brand	OnePlus

Life Journey

WoodGram brings you a story that takes a look at the life and career of a football genius known primarily as “Scholletje Junior”. Daley’s Childhood Story with his Biography brings you a complete account of the events from his childhood right up to the present day.

An analysis of the Dutch and former Manchester United footballer includes his life story before fame, his family life, his family connections, as well as other facts about him off the pitch.

It is true that he is known for his versatility. However, there are very few people who know much about Daley Blind’s bio, which is quite interesting. Now, without further ado, let us get started.

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I would like to begin by telling you that Daley Blind was born on the 9th day of March 1990 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. He was born to his mother, Yvonne Blind, and to his father, Danny Blind. The story of Daley Blind’s childhood is the story of a young and intelligent boy, who at birth was discovered to be genetically blessed with the gift of exceptional football talent, which he inherited from his father.

Danny, his father, placed him in a school that offered him the opportunity to play competitive soccer during the school’s sports period. It was at the youth academy of his hometown club Ajax that Blind started his career, the same club where his father Danny made his name as a professional footballer.

In spite of the influence his father had on him, Daley stayed steely in his determination to make his dreams come true, and his dreams were not just a passing fancy.

In his words;

My Dad, who is also my best friend, used to take me to all the important games as his personal manager during his playing days. He never bought me any toys or games as I grew older, he just gave me a football. I’m eternally grateful for everything he did for me. Without him, I wouldn’t be on such an unbelievable journey that I am on right now.”

Blind played soccer for AFC (Amsterdamsche Football Club) between the ages of 5 and 8 (1995-1998), which gave him a good foundation to play soccer. During his time at the academy, he bonded well with his youth coach, Edwin Tielman, whom he looked up to as a father figure. Danny decided that in order to keep a close eye on his son, he would enroll him at the Ajax academy where he had been working as a trainer.

There can be no doubt that being the son of Ajax legend Danny Blind and a Dutch legend can be a challenge for any young footballer. The expectations of Daley Blind have always been high, and early on in his career, it seemed that he might have a hard time meeting them.

As a result of the influence of his father, Blind started a successful career at Ajax and rose through the youth ranks to earn himself a place in the senior team. As a result of this period of his life, his father rose to become a board member of the club.

Blind played as a utility player at left-back, left wing-back, center-back, and defensive midfield during his career. The former Netherlands international captured four consecutive Eredivisie titles with the club.

His dad was later appointed assistant coach of the Netherlands due to strong football connections in his family. As it happens, this coincides with the time Daley Blind won the team player of the year award for Ajax in 2013, which lead to him being called up by Louis van Gaal to the Netherlands national team.

His father’s friend, Louis van Gaal, got the job at Manchester United just a few days before the 2014 World Cup was taking place. It is certain that Blind’s father, who was the United boss’ assistant coach at the World Cup in Brazil, had something to do with his son’s move.

On the 30th of August 2014, exactly one year after the end of the tournament, Manchester United reached an agreement to sign Daley blind. As a result, many of the Ajax players who came later – such as the likes of Sven Botman, Perr Schuurs, Matthijs de Ligt, etc – would always refer to the work of Oaley. After that, as they say, the rest is history.

Football has been a golden tree for millions of youth, a place where they have found refuge and love. Behind every great man, there is a great son, and behind every great son, there is a beautiful, glamorous woman. Blind has been in a long-term relationship with Candy-Rae Fleur, who looks exactly like him.

Candy-Rae is a model and dancer with a solid resume that includes dances with Robin Thicke at the MTV EMAs, as well as her own music videos. She is originally from Amsterdam, and she graduated from Hermann Wesselink College (class of 2007). In her UnkIn profile, she describes herself as currently working as a broadcast media professional.

I’m not sure how long the couple has been together, but they look like they’re seriously in love.

The love of my life gives me great support and I also try to give her the same. As Daley Blind explains, “I’m just a regular guy, a normal couple. I think it can be difficult for Candy-Rae because she’s dating a footballer, and that means getting a lot of attention. I think dating a footballer is not always easy for Candy-Rae.”

In spite of the fact that Candy-Rae Feur usually stays out of the limelight by hiding herself, she has already shown her extroverted side by bringing her dancing crew to support her boyfriend.

There was a new way to show support for Manchester United’s defender by having a face cap called “Team Blind.”. In addition to the ‘Team Blind snapback caps”, the group of brunettes and blondes all had the fashion accessory, which they used to attract the attention and adoration of fans as they entered the stadium.

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It’s no secret that Candy-Rae loves fashion, but she won’t go all dressed up for a match. Her only concern is to make sure she wears something red and, for the purpose of showing national support, something orange. Candy Rae does not like being called a WAG, despite being a football player’s girlfriend. Once she said:

“I am not a WAG, I do not feel like a player’s girlfriend. It is the opposite! He is a dancer’s man!”

Blind is very friendly, and he is constantly in the company of very different people. He is selfless and always willing to help others without expecting anything in return. Daley Blind’s life is characterized by empathy and a strong emotional capacity. Candy-Rae Fleur, his girlfriend, is extremely faithful to him and very compassionate.

Daley Blind comes from an upper-class family. Football is the most important thing in the Blind household. Despite this, the house is not filled with football shirts, as there are more females than males. Please meet the members of the Daley Blind Family.

Yvonne Blind is known for helping her son, Daley, to move to Manchester United. Yvonne Blind’s black page documents an incident in 2006 when she and her husband were both involved in a traffic accident. The other party involved in the accident (the victim) had to be cut from the car and taken to the hospital.

Daley Blind’s grandfather is from Hellevoetsluis. Due to his distinguished career in the power industry, he is a well-known personality in the Dutch province of Zeeland. Daley Blind’s grandmother is from Vlissingse, a municipality in the southwest of the country. When he was a child, he witnessed his uncle’s death in a moped accident.

The name Daley Blind has two amazing sisters: Zola and Frenkie Blind. Their social media shows that Zola is older than her brother and Frenkie is much younger. Zola is also supportive of her brother.

Because of the head of the home, Soccer has remained a family affair for the Blind family. Blind begins his professional career as a right defender. Blind made his professional debut for Sparta on 29 August 1979. Johan Cruijff, the technical director of Ajax, brought Blind to the team in 1986.

During his playing days, Danny Blind won the Champions League (1995), the European Cup II (1987), the UEFA Cup (1992), and the World Cup (1995). During his time in the Dutch league, he played 537 games and scored 45 goals. During his playing days, Danny looked exactly like his son Daley.

Danny managed Eredivisie champions Ajax in 2005, before becoming the manager of the Dutch national team under Louis van Gaal in 2012. Due to poor results, he was fired from his position as assistant coach of the national team in 2017. Danny grew up in East Souburg and played for Sparta Rotterdam, Ajax, and the Dutch national football team.

During his time at Ajax, he became so popular that the board of directors offered him a job as a trainer, and later made him a member of the board. Danny Blind played as a defender for the Netherlands for many years. He is the only Dutch soccer player to have won all international club competitions recognized by both UEFA and FIFA.

Blind is a defensive midfielder who likes to break up play and quickly create new attacks after winning possession. In his role as a left-back, he seems to know when to surge forward and when to stay back. This is due to Blind’s tactical awareness and intelligence.

His strength consists in taking the right action at the right time. It could be argued that Daley Blind is an ineffective defensive midfielder who was not strong physically and was not adept at tackling, especially against powerful strikers.

Observing him, one would conclude that he appears rather weak. His lack of pace may be problematic for him as a full-back.

Daley Blind Net Worth

How much does he earn in 2023?

The center back in July 2018 signed a new contract with Ajax Amsterdam that will see him earn a whopping salary of 2 million euros (1.7 million pounds) per year. Based on the calculations we have done, we can estimate that he earns €5,479.45 (£4,657.53) per day and €228.31 (£194.06) per hour!

‎Salary & Net Worth Updated 2023
Estimated Net Worth in 2023 (Approx)	10 Million Euro (8.7 Million Pound)
Estimated Net Worth in 2022 (Approx)	8 Million Euro (6.8 Million Pound)
Estimated Net Worth in 2021 (Approx)	Not Available
Annual Salary	2 million euros (1.7 million pounds)
Per Month Salary	€166,667 (£144,928)
Per Week Salary	€38,462 (£33,445)
Per Day Salary	€5,479 (£4,765)
Per Hour Salary	€228 (£198)
Per Minute Salary	€4 (£3)
Current Contract	With Ajax Amsterdam
Contract Signed	Jul 17, 2018
Contract Expires	Jun 30, 2023
Contract Signing Amount or Transfer Fee	$19.80 Million
Market Value	$11.00 Million
Highest Market Value	$27.50 Million (Dec 18, 2019)
Endorsements	$1-$5 Million
Income Source	Professional Footballer
Cars Collection	• Mercedes Benz • Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

During his stay in England, he has seen his net worth rise to approximately 8 million euros. His current market value is approximately $11 million.

Daley Blind In FIFA 22

Daley Blind, a 33-year-old player for Ajax in the Netherlands, plays as a fullback for the club right now. In FIFA 22, he has an overall rating of 81 with a potential rating of 81.

Blind has a rating of 3 stars for skill moves. His preferred foot to shoot with is the left. In terms of workrates, he is Medium/Medium. Our database estimates Blind’s height to be 180 cm and his weight to be 72 kg based on his height. Daley Blind is currently wearing the number 17 in the National Hockey League.

Club Career

Daley Blind in Ajax

• Blind began his career at the youth academy of the club that he grew up supporting, Ajax; the club where his father Danny made his name as a professional footballer.
• He is one of the products of the Ajax youth system, and he has quickly established himself as a mainstay of the A-juniors during the 2007-2008 season, despite the fact that he was a B-junior at the time. As a result, he earned a promotion to the Ajax first team for the 2008-09 season.
• He was a midfielder through all the levels of Ajax’s youth system, often playing as the ‘No.’ 6 or the ‘third center-back role.
• After he showed great promise as a youngster, he was made captain of Jong Ajax in 2007.
• The 18-year-old signed his first professional contract at the age of 17, tying him to the club until the year 2010.
• During the away match against FC Volendam on the 7th of December 2008, Blind made his debut in the Ajax first-team.
• Blind made a big contribution to Ajax’s victory in the game when he forced a corner kick through a Volendam defender, from which Jan Vertonghen scored the winning goal.
• On 19 December 2008, he signed a contract extension that will keep him with Ajax until 30 June 2013.

Loan to Groningen

• He signed for Groningen on loan for the remainder of the 2009–10 season, during the winter transfer window, on 5 January 2010.
• Blind spent most of his time at Groningen as a right-back. Ajax was almost close to selling him on a permanent basis to Groningen for €1.5 million but the deal did not materialize.

Back from a loan spell

• During the following two seasons, Blind contributed to Ajax winning two Eredivisie national championships, for the 2010–11 season, and for the 2011–12 season, the first of which would be Ajax’s 30th national title.
• However, Blind’s performances when given the chance were unconvincing and he was even booed off the field in an Eredivisie game.
• Under newly appointed manager Frank de Boer, Blind was progressively given more and more playing time, which earned him a place as the first choice left-back with a permanent starting position during the 2012–13 season..
• Marc Overmars announced on April 23, 2013, that Ajax and Blind had reached an agreement to extend his contract for three years, tying him to the club until 2016.
• Blind helped Ajax win its third Dutch Eredivisie title in a row on 5 May, marking the club’s 32nd national championship. Blind assisted a 5–0 home victory over Willem II, securing the top position on the table just one match day before the end of the season.
• That same day, Blind was named AFC Ajax Player of the Year for the 2012–13 season after an outstanding fifth season for Ajax at left-back.
• De Boer moved Blind back to his natural defensive midfielder position during the 2013–14 season when Ajax won their fourth consecutive league title.

Daley Blind in Manchester United

• Manchester United agreed to sign Blind, pending a medical agreement of personal terms, on 30 August 2014. A fee of £13.8 million was paid for the transfer on 1 September 2014.
• Thirteen days after signing, Blind played the full 90 minutes as United beat Queens Park Rangers 4–0 at Old Trafford for their first victory of the season.
• His first goal for the club came on 20 October, a 20-yard strike that earned United a 2–2 draw against West Bromwich Albion.
• Blind sustained a knee ligament injury during the Netherlands’ UEFA Euro 2016 qualifier against Latvia on 16 November, which kept him out of the Manchester United team throughout the rest of 2014.
• Blind started in defense in a 1–0 loss to Southampton at Old Trafford on 11 January 2015.
• In a 1–1 draw against West Ham on 8 February, he scored an injury-time equalizer for United.
• Despite playing as a defensive midfielder or left-back throughout the previous season, Blind began the season as a center-back, where he played for most of the season.
• During a 3–1 win over Liverpool at Old Trafford on 12 September 2015, he scored his first goal of the season, also being named man of the match.
• In the 2016–17 Premier League season, he was the first choice center-back alongside Chris Smalling but lost his place after Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo began to impress.
• After returning to the first team he played mostly at left-back, replacing first-choice Luke Shaw.
• In his first goal of the season against Sunderland on Boxing Day, he charged into the box after receiving a pass from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and finished low into the bottom corner.
• Manchester United won 2–0 against his former team Ajax in the Europa League final.

Daley Blind Back to Ajax

• On 17 July 2018, both Manchester United and Ajax announced that Blind would return to Ajax for a four-year deal and €16 million plus conditional add-ons.
• Blind scored his first hat-trick as a center-back in an 8–0 League win over De Graafschap at home on 16 December 2018.
• Blind collapsed during a pre-season friendly in August 2020 and was due for medical tests before returning to training.

International Career

• For the 2007 European Championships, Blind was called up to the Netherlands’ under-17 squad.
• His absence from the opening match was due to suspension, but he scored a brace against Iceland in the second match before picking up an ankle injury that ended his participation in the tournament.
• The under-21 team called him up for several 2011 European Championship qualifiers, but he did not play.
• He made his first appearance of the season on 13 October, replacing Ajax teammate Siem de Jong in a 4–0 win away to Poland.
• On 6 February 2013, Blind made his first appearance for the Netherlands senior team against Italy in a friendly match at the Amsterdam Arena, after previous call-ups. With Blind playing the full 90 minutes, the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
• He was selected for the Netherlands squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in June 2014. As the Oranje won 5-1 against Spain, he started as left wing-back and assisted goals for Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben.
• During the third-place play-off against Brazil, he scored his first goal for the Netherlands.

Facts About Daley Blind

• Blind mainly plays as a left-back, but he can also play as a center-back or defensive midfielder.
• He represents both Manchester United and the Netherlands national team.
• It is partly because of his superb crossing capabilities that the dutchman is played on the flanks.
• He can hold onto the ball for a long time, allowing his teammates to make runs.
• He is also capable of playing nice passes and excels at long shots.
• Blind’s father is an ex-Ajax player and was also on the Netherlands national team. Daley played for Ajax’s youth team and progressed through the age divisions.
• Ajax’s Blind made his first senior team appearance against FC Volendam on 7 December 2008.
• He made his international debut against Italy on 6 February 2013. The match was drawn by a score of 1-1.
• Blind won the championship title with Ajax in 2011 and 2012, but his contributions weren’t evident until 2013 when he really helped the team to win the championship.
• Blind played in the center of defense during the 2013-14 season. He was named Dutch Footballer of the Year, and he was brilliant in helping his team win their fourth title.
• Following his outstanding performance at Ajax, the Dutchman was signed by Manchester United. Blind scored United’s first Premier League goal against West Bromwich Albion on 20 October 2014.
• Blind became a permanent squad member in 2016-17 after some great performances in the previous season and overall growth. The Dutchman won the Europa League final against his first professional team, Ajax.
• Starting at the under-17 level, Blind moved up to the under-21 level and then made his way up to the senior squad.
• During the 2014 FIFA World Cup, he assisted two goals against Spain as the Netherlands won 5-1. He scored his first goal against Brazil and the Netherlands won 3-0.

FAQs

Conclusion

A look at Daley Blind’s life story reveals that our career path is not solely dependent on our childhood dreams when it comes to our career path. The fact that kids compelled him to stay in the post against his wishes was an opportunity for him to build himself up.

In our opinion, the parents should be commended for the fact that they have devoted a large part of their money to enrolling Daley Blind in a sports academy. It is true they will be very proud of the fact that he never wasted the opportunity he had to succeed in his endeavors.

Thank you for taking out your precious time to read Woodgram’s version of Daley Blind’s Biography. Our team of writers and researchers care about the accuracy of our content on Dutch Footballers. Please let us know if you spot any wrongs in our article.

On a final note, we would appreciate your feedback (below as a comment) on what you think about Daley Blind, including our biography of him. Now, stay tuned for more Dutch Football Stories from WoodGram.

“Ciro” is the nickname of Dries Mertens, a Belgian professional football player who plays for Serie A club Napoli and the national team of Belgium. As a youth, Mertens played for Stade Leuven, Anderlecht, and Gent, before making his debut on loan at Eendracht Aalst in the Belgian Third Division. During his time in the Eerste Divisie, he spent three years with AGOVV Apeldoorn before moving for €600,000 to Utrecht of the Eredivisie.

In 2012, he and teammate Kevin Strootman were transferred to PSV Eindhoven for a combined fee of €13 million and won the KNVB Cup and Johan Cruyff Shield. Mertens joined Napoli for a fee of €9.6 million in 2013 and has since played over 300 matches for the club. During the 2016–17 season, he was named to the Serie A Team of the Year after winning the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana in 2014. The 2020 season marks his 122nd goal for the club, surpassing Marek Hamsik as Napoli’s all-time leading goalscorer.

In 2011, he made his Belgian debut and has since played over 100 times for the national team. He was also part of the club’s squads at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2016, the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and UEFA Euro 2020, helping them to a third-place finish in the 2018 tournament. He was named Belgian Footballer of the Year in 2016.

Dries Mertens Bio/Wiki

Birth Name	Dries Mertens
Nick Name	• Ciro • Ciruzz
Age	36 (as in 2023) Years
Religion	Not Available
Sun Sign/Zodiac Sign	Taurus
Birth Place	Leuven, Belgium
Date of Birth	6 May 1987
Nationality	Belgian
Residence	Leuven, Belgium
Home Town	Leuven, Belgium
Food Habit	Non-Vegetarian
Hobbies	Watching Movies, Horse Riding
Family
Mother’s Name	Marijke Van Kampen
Father’s Name	Herman Mertens
Brother(s)	Jeroen Mertens
Sister(s)	Elise Mertens
Girlfriends/Affairs
Affairs/Girlfriends	Katrin Kerkhofs
Marital Status, Wife and Children
Wife/Spouse	Katrin Kerkhofs
Marriage Date	June 26, 2015
Marriage Place	Not Available
Children	Daughters- None Sons- Ciro Romeo Mertens
Education
School	Not Available
College/University	Not Available
Educational Qualification	Not Available
Profession	Professional Footballer
Brands Endorsed	Nike
Career Manager	Stirr Associates
Football Career
Debut Club	• July 1, 2013: S.S.C. Napoli • June 28, 2011: PSV • 2009: FC Utrecht • 2006: AGOVV • 2005: K A A. Gent • 2005: S.C. Eendracht Aalst
Debut International	• 2011: Belgium national football team
Jersey Number	• 14 (S.S.C. Napoli) • 14 (Belgium national football team)
Current Team(s)	• S.S.C. Napoli • Belgium national football team
Coach/Mentor	Luciano Spalletti
Position	Attack – Centre-Forward
Foot	Right
Strengths	• Tackling • Interceptions • Marking • Jumping • Passing • Crossing
Weaknesses	• Strength • Heading • Balance
Achievements	Not Available
Height, Weight, and Figure Measurements
Height (Approx.)	in centimeters- 169 cm in meters- 1.69 m in feet inches- 5’7”
Weight (Approx.)	in kilograms- 61 kg in pounds- 134.5 lbs
Figure Measurements
Chest Size	42 inches
Biceps Size	14 inches
Waist Size	30 inches
Extra Ordinary Features
Race / Ethnicity	Belgian
Hair Color	Dark Brown
Eye Color	Brown
S*xual Orientation	Straight
Distinctive Features	Not Available
Dress Size	Not Available
Shoe Size	11 U.S.
Favourite Things
Favorite Playing Position	Centre-Forward
Favorite Car	Ford Fairlane
Favorite Food	Italian Food
Favorite Drinks	Coffee
Favorite Color	Blue
Favorite Cell Phone/Brand	iPhone/Apple

Life Journey

The Full Story of Football Genius is presented by Woodgram, who has the nicknames “Ciro” and “Ciruzz”.

Dries Mertens’s Biography provides a detailed account of notable events from his childhood until the present. The analysis includes his life story before fame, relationship life, family background, and many OFF-Pitch (little known) facts about him.

Everyone knows he is a dead-ball specialist. Like Eden and Thorgan Hazard, he is a Belgian football legend. In addition, he is one of the many Napoli legends alongside Kalidou Koulthaly. Despite this, only a few fans know much about Dries Mertens’ biography, which is quite fascinating.

Without further ado, let’s begin.

Drys Mertens was born in Leuven, Belgium’s Flemish region, on May 6th, 1987 to Marijke Mertens and Herman Mertens. Dries is the only child of football-loving parents who had a big vision for their only child.

As a child, he had high regard for his parents, who instilled in him the moral and ethical values of life. One of these involves Dries learning to appreciate the little things in life. Dries Mertens was a humble and withdrawn student who excelled in academics while at school.

His school then offered him the opportunity to participate in competitive soccer during sports periods. While on breaks, Mertens would play football every second he had. His ability to handle the ball better than his teammates led his school coach to meet his parents and urge them to help their son become a professional footballer.

In the mid-1990s, Belgium witnessed a new wave of football enthusiasm. When its national team disgracefully failed to qualify for the 1998 world cup group stage, a country with only 11rn people had a watershed moment.

Bob Browaeys, a coach of Belgium youth teams at all levels, was given the task of creating a blueprint document that would challenge the “lack of a unified vision on youth” football at that time.

Over 30 Belgian federation coaches met to discuss the radical change in approach to football in the country due to this document. Their findings showed that there was far too much emphasis on winning and not enough on development. Dries Mertens was one of the beneficiaries of Belgium’s youth football revolution.

Two years (1996) before the France 1998 World Cup that sparked the Belgian football revolution, his parents enrolled him on the roster of the local team, Stade Leuven.  As the football revolution began in Belgium, funds were made available to develop young players. The system favored bigger clubs like Anderlecht, whose scouts were empowered to recruit talented kids from local clubs.

Anderlecht’s scouts initially noticed Mertens at his club, and ultimately offered him a chance to join the club’s youth academy in 1998.

Despite not being wealthy, Diers Mertens’ parents supported their son to the fullest. He was right when he said:
“My father usually drives me with his bus to Anderlecht and he takes me from the age of 11 to 18 years old every day to training in Brussels.”

As soon as he switched to Anderlecht, his old club was dissolved by the Belgian Football Authorities who were targeting mushroom clubs at the time. Drys Mertens spent five years in the Anderlecht youth setup before he experienced the biggest disappointment of his young life.

Coaches found him to be too short and physically incapable of competing at a professional level, so they released him in 2003. Mertens was signed by fellow Belgian Pro League side Gent after being released by Anderlecht, where he climbed all youth ranks to finish his youth career. However, he struggled to progress in his career.

Gent’s coaching staff, like those at Anderlecht before, were still unconvinced by Mertens’s small frame. Instead of selling him, they decided to loan him out. To AGOVV Apeldoorn in the Netherlands.

After crossing the border into the Netherlands, Mertens was on his way to becoming a professional footballer. Apeldoorn became the launching pad for Mertens’s career. He excelled, became captain, and won the 2009 Gouden Stier, given to the best player in the Dutch second division.

Mertens became a late bloomer to fame because he struggled with rejection. After making his Eredivisie debut with Utrecht at 22, he only began playing at the highest level at the age of 22. As a result of his performance, Utrecht qualified for Europe for the first time in four years, earning him a nomination for Dutch Footballer of the Year.

In those days, the rise of the Belgian was the most talked-about storyline in the country. In 2011, he joined PSV. The Italian club came calling after he scored 37 goals in 62 appearances. Rafael Benitez’s first signing as Napoli’s new manager was Martens. At Napoli, handsome Mertens used his low center of gravity to buzz around in wide areas, causing top defenders to be bamboozled.

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The rest is now history, as they say.

Drys Mertens is indeed handsome and taken (sorry ladies!). The only person in his heart is his childhood sweetheart, Kat Kerkhofs. The couple dated for ten years before deciding to wed. Mertens married his childhood love and partner Kat in Naples in June 2015.

Kat comes from an affluent family and is a dancer and researcher. Her father, Late Mr. Kerkhofs, was a popular musician and drummer in the seventies. Mr. Kerkhofs died on Christmas Eve of a heart attack in 2004.

In an interview with Belgian television channel Vier, Kat Kerkhofs revealed that she and her husband enjoy getting intimate in public, especially in train toilets. Naples organized a couple friendly of Halloween events. Dries Mertens and his wife Kat had to get creative by posing as two Napoli teammates.

Mertens revealed that he and his good lady dressed up as two of his Napoli teammates, namely Lorenzo Insigne and Marek Harnsik, on Halloween.

Dries Mertens rejected a big-money move to China on the grounds that his parents would be disappointed with him if he pursued wealth. As a result, we gain more insight into The Dries Mertens Family Background. Dries described how his parents’ values had made him resist the desire for too much monies.

I Have Great Respect For What My Parents Did For Me When I Was A Child. They Did Not Raise Me Talking About Money – I Would Have Disappointed Them If I Went To China.”

Despite not disclosing the exact offer amount, Mertens admitted that it was challenging to reject such an enormous sum. According to Mertens:

“We Weighed The Pros And Cons, My Wife Read Testimonials From People Who Live There. Despite That, I Decided To Say No. I Can Tell You That It Is Difficult To Refuse Such An Amount. My Children And Even My Grandchildren Would No Longer Have Had To Worry About Their Future If I Had Accepted The Offer.”

Despite admitting that a good salary is important for his life, Mertens insists that his upbringing taught him to appreciate the small things, with a move to China for financial reasons not even on his radar.

Dries Mertens Net Worth

In 2023, how much will he earn?

S.S.C. Napoli signed the forward in May 2017 for a whopping salary of 7.4 million euros (6.3 million pounds) per year. According to our calculations, he earns €20,274 (£17,260) per day and €845 (£719) per hour.

‎Salary & Net Worth Updated 2023
Estimated Net Worth in 2023 (Approx)	25 million Euros
Estimated Net Worth in 2022 (Approx)	18 million Euros
Estimated Net Worth in 2021 (Approx)	Not Available
Annual Salary	7.4 million euros (6.3 million pounds)
Per Month Salary	€616,667 (£536,232)
Per Week Salary	€142,308 (£123,746)
Per Day Salary	€20,274 (£17,630)
Per Hour Salary	€844 (£734)
Per Minute Salary	€14 (£12)
Current Contract	With SSC Napoli
Contract Signed	Jul 1, 2013
Contract Expires	Jun 30, 2022
Contract Signing Amount	$14.30 Million
Market Value	$5.50 Million
Highest Market Value	$37.50 Million (Dec 29, 2017)
Endorsements	$1-$5 Million
Income Source	Professional Footballer
Cars Collection	Ford Fairlane

As a result of a stable career in Italy, his net worth has grown to 25 million Euros. At present, its market value is only $5.50 million.

Dries Mertens In FIFA 2022

He is currently 35 years old and plays forward for Napoli in Italy. FIFA 22 gives him an overall rating of 84 and a potential rating of 84. We rate his skill moves as 4 stars. It is his right foot that he prefers to shoot with. His workrates are high and low. Our database estimates that Matthias’s height is 169 cm and his weight is 61 kg. At the moment, Dries Mertens plays with the number 14.

The following are his best stats:

• Balance: 92
• Agility: 92
• Acceleration: 90
• Ball Control: 88
• Dribbling: 88

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Club Career

• Born in Leuven, Mertens began his football career at the now-dissolved Stade Leuven when he was a boy.
• The scouts of Anderlecht first spotted Mertens here, leading to his invitation to join Anderlecht’s youth academy in 1998.
• He spent five years in the youth setup at Anderlecht before being released in 2003 as coaches believed he was too short and physically incapable of competing at a professional level.
• Mertens was signed by fellow Belgian Pro League side Gent after being released by Anderlecht. Mertens spent two seasons in Gent’s youth academy before being loaned to Eendracht Aalst for the 2005–06 season.
• With the third division side, he was named Player of the Year.
• As with Anderlecht before, Gent remained unconvinced of Mertens due to his slight frame and loaned him out again the following season to AGOVV Apeldoorn in the Netherlands.

AGOVV

• Mertens officially joined AGOVV Apeldoorn on a season-long loan with the option of purchase on 1 July 2006.
• With 2 goals in 35 appearances, he became a fan favorite among De Blauwen supporters. In the following season, AGOVV, led by new manager John van den Brom, exercised the option to sign the Belgian permanently.
• The move paid off as Mertens ended the season with 15 goals in 38 appearances for the Dutch club.
• Mertens’ influence was such that he was named new club captain for the 2008-09 Eerste Divisie season.
• With 13 more goals for the season, he was awarded the Golden Bull award for the most talented player in the Eerste Divisie.
• He would leave the club at the end of the season to join Eredivisie side Utrecht. Mertens made 110 appearances across all competitions for AGOVV during his three seasons at the club and netted 31 goals.

Utrecht

• Utrecht completed the signing of Mertens for a transfer fee of €600,000 at the start of the 2009–10 Eredivisie season after agreeing on a contract with AGOVV in March 2009.
• After his debut season with the club, Mertens scored six league goals en route to being named runner-up to Luis Suárez of Ajax for the Dutch Footballer of the Year award.
• In addition, he was awarded the Di Tommaso Trophy for Utrecht’s Player of the Season. In the following season, he scored 10 goals in 31 league appearances for Utrecht, including a hat-trick against AZ on the final day of the season, and three more goals in his first experience in the UEFA Europa League.
• Mertens scored 14 goals and contributed 24 assists across all competitions. Though he was at the club for just one season, his form at Stadion Galgenwaard caught the attention of some of the league’s biggest clubs.
• Mertens’ two-season spell in Utrecht yielded 21 goals in 86 appearances across all competitions.

PSV Eindhoven

• It was announced in June 2011 that Mertens had joined fellow Eredivisie club PSV Eindhoven as a replacement for Balázs Dzsudzsák in a dual transfer with Utrecht teammate Kevin Strootman for a combined fee of €13 million.
• On 7 August 2011, he scored on his competitive debut for the club in a 3–1 defeat to AZ.
• On 28 August, Mertens scored his first hat-trick for PSV in a 6–1 thrashing of Excelsior.
• ‘Mertens’ impressive start to the season culminated in four goals in a 7–1 victory over Roda JC on 24 September 2011, giving him 11 goals in his first seven appearances for PSV.
• As the campaign came to a close, Mertens lost a number of teeth in a collision with Heracles goalkeeper Remko Pasveer, although he still managed to score during the incident.
• Twitter revealed that Pasveer found one of Mertens’ teeth lodged in his head three weeks after the players collided.
• Mertens, who ended the season with 21 goals in 33 games, was the fourth-highest scorer in the Eredivisie. A header in the final of the KNVB Cup at De Kuip, Rotterdam, gave PSV a 3–0 win over Heracles.
• At the start of the following season, he added to his collection of silverware as PSV beat Ajax 4–2 to win the Johan Cruyff Shield.
• Mertens and Jürgen Locadia, who was making his Eredivisie debut, both scored hat-tricks as PSV defeated VVV-Venlo 6–0 on 30 September 2012.
• He scored 14 league goals and 16 in all competitions as PSV finished second to Ajax in the Eredivisie.
• In addition, he contributed 17 assists to his team’s cause. He would leave the Eredivisie at the end of the season, as PSV accepted an offer from Serie A side Napoli.
• Over the course of two seasons, he made 88 appearances and scored 45 goals for Eindhoven.

Napoli

• The player’s agent Soren Lerby confirmed on 16 June 2013 that he would sign with Napoli.
• He is the first signing of Rafael Benitez as Napoli manager after he reportedly agreed to a fee of €9.5 million with PSV.
• He made his Serie A debut against Bologna on 25 August 2013, coming on as a second-half substitute for Marek Hamsik.
• On 30 October, he scored his first goal for Napoli in the club’s 2–1 away victory over Fiorentina.
• Napoli’s first game after the Serie A winter break saw Mertens score his first brace for the club in a 2–0 win over Sampdoria on 6 January 2014.
• Napoli lost 2–0 to Juventus on 30 March as a result of his second goal, inflicting only the second league defeat on the eventual champions.
• In the final of the Coppa Italia on 3 May 2014, Mertens replaced Marek Hamsik in the 64th minute and went on to score in stoppage time, ensuring Fiorentina a 3–1 victory.
• After Napoli’s penalty shoot-out victory over Juventus in the Supercoppa on 22 December 2014, he won his second winners’ medal.
• Despite primarily being used as a substitute, he continued to excel for Napoli over the next season and a half, scoring 10 goals and providing 11 assists across all competitions in 2014–15, and 11 more in 2015–16.
• Among his goals in the latter campaign was a brace in Napoli’s 5–0 win over Belgian side Club Brugge, Napoli’s joint-largest ever winning margin in the Europa League.
• Mertens also scored a hat-trick in a 6–0 victory over Bologna on 19 April 2016.
• After Gonzalo Higuain, the previous season’s Capocannoniere, moved to Juventus, and Arkadiusz Milik was injured, Mertens assumed an important role as the center of Napoli’s attack for the 2016–17 Serie A season.
• On 11 December 2016, he scored a hat-trick in a 5–0 Serie A victory over Cagliari before scoring four goals in a 5–3 win against Torino the following week.
• The four goals by Martens – including the fourth-fastest hat-trick in Serie A history – were the first by a Napoli player since Beppe Savoldi in 1977.
• It was also his first league hat-trick since Juventus’ Pietro Anastasi in 1974, and the first time he scored seven goals over two matches since Antonio Angelillo in 1958.
• His performances for club and country were recognized when, on 30 December, he was named Belgian Footballer of the Year for 2016, beating Eden Hazard of Chelsea and Radja Nainggolan of Roma.
• The match on 4 February 2017 saw Mertens and Hamsik grab hat-tricks in a 7–1 win over Bologna, resulting in Napoli’s first-ever away win with seven goals.
• In the final game of the season, he scored his 50th league goal for Napoli and his 28th for the season, finishing just one goal behind Golden Boot winner Edin Džeko.
• In the following season, he maintained his goal-scoring form, scoring 22 goals.
• Mertens scored both goals in Napoli’s 3–1 UEFA Champions League win over Red Star Belgrade on 28 November 2018, his 100th for the club.
• The following day, he marked his 200th Serie A appearance for the club with an assist for Kalidou Koulibaly’s opening goal in a 3–1 win over Chievo on 14 April 2019.
• In Napoli’s 2–0 away win over Frosinone on 28 April, Mertens equaled Diego Maradona’s Serie A goal tally of 81.
• He surpassed Maradona’s tally of 115 goals for the club across all competitions in October 2019, when he scored twice in a 3–2 Champions League win over Red Bull Salzburg, becoming the club’s second-highest scorer of all time.
• On 25 February 2020, Mertens scored the opening goal in an eventual 1-1 draw with Barcelona in the first leg of the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League. His 121 goals tied Hamsik as Napoli’s all-time highest goal scorer.
• He was injured in the second half and was later taken off. It was his equalizing goal in a 1–1 home draw against Inter Milan in the 2019–20 Coppa Italia semi-final that saw him overtake Hamsik as Napoli’s all-time leading goalscorer with 122, and also allowed the Naples to advance to the Coppa Italia Final.
• He signed a two-year contract extension with the club on 17 June. Later that day, he started the Coppa Italia final against Juventus before being replaced by Milik in the second half; Napoli won 4–2 on penalties following a 0–0 draw after regulation time.
• Mertens scored his 99th and 100th Serie A goals for Napoli in a 2–0 loss to Roma on 21 March 2021.
• In the Serie A match against Inter on 21 November 2021, Mertens scored his 103rd goal for Napoli, becoming the club’s all-time leading scorer.

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International Career

• Mertens previously represented Belgium at the youth level but received his first call-up to the senior team by national coach Georges Leekens on 1 October 2010 for the nation’s UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying matches against Kazakhstan and Austria.
• Despite not featuring in either match, Mertens made his debut on 9 February the following year in a friendly against Finland in Ghent.
• As a Belgian, he won his first cap on 15 August 2012, in the 125th Derby der Lage Landen.
• After replacing Nacer Chadli, Mertens scored one goal and provided two assists to help Belgium defeat the Netherlands 4–2.
• On 13 May 2014, Mertens was named to Marc Wilmots’ 23-man squad for Belgium’s 2014 FIFA World Cup campaign in Brazil.
• In the nation’s final warm-up match ahead of the tournament on 7 June, Mertens scored a late winner to secure a 1–0 victory over Tunisia.
• Corey made his first appearance of the tournament for Belgium, replacing Chadli at halftime and scoring the winner in a 2–1 victory over Algeria in Belo Horizonte.
• Before the World Cup began, Mertens made a bet with his father that he would score a goal.
• His father’s mustache was shaved off as a reward for winning the bet after he posted a photo on Instagram after the match.
• During the World Cup, he made five appearances, as Belgium lost to eventual runners-up, Argentina, in the quarter-finals.
• Belgium began its qualification campaign for Euro 2016 after the World Cup. In Belgium’s 6–0 win over Andorra, Mertens scored two goals in three minutes for his first brace for the national team.
• In the following year, he assisted on one goal and scored another in Belgium’s 3–1 win over Israel, which secured the top spot in Belgium’s qualifying group.
• After being named in the Belgium squad for the tournament proper, he played in all five matches as the nation fell at the quarter-final stage once again, this time to Wales.
• Under the new manager Roberto Martinez, Mertens scored five goals for Belgium during their qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, including two in an 8–1 home victory over Estonia on 13 November 2016.
• Belgium’s tournament squad then selected him and he scored in the nation’s opening match in a 3–0 win over Panama.
• For the remainder of the tournament, he played as both a starter and substitute as Belgium finished third, defeating England in the third-place play-off.
• Mertens played his 100th match for Belgium in a 2–1 win over Denmark during the UEFA Euro 2020 tournament on 17 June 2021.

Facts About Dries Mertens

• A strong army needs a competent executioner. Dries Mertens is that silent performer in the ‘Golden Generation of Belgian Football’ who slickly executes the role of winger and is highly rated both for his pace and finishing.
• He plays mostly as a winger for Napoli SSC and the Belgian national team. He has also displayed commendable abilities in the central striker role.
• He was born in Leuven, Belgium, on 6 May 1987. During his footballing career he played for Stade Leuven, a local club.
• The youth academy of KAA Gent provided him with the perfect platform to develop his football skills.
• Aalst and AGOVV in the Netherlands, where his brilliant skills attracted the attention of bigger clubs, he then moved to the Netherlands to play for third division sides.
• Before making his senior team debut, Mertens had played for the Belgian Under 17 team. He was substituted in the second half of a match against Finland in September 2011. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.
• Regardless of club or country affiliation, Mertens has proven to be a consistent performer over the years. His knack for scoring important goals makes him an indispensable member of Napoli and Belgium.
• Mertens is a regular starter above the likes of talented wingers like Yannick Carrasco and Kevin Mirallas in Belgium.
• His World Cup was an eventful one in which he scored a last gasp winner against Algeria in the group stages, and played in all of Belgium’s matches until they were eliminated by Argentina in the quarterfinals.
• Mertens has improved dramatically in terms of his style of play. Mertens has also developed into a lethal goalscorer in addition to his guile and creativity. Edin Dzeko edged out his tally of 28 goals by a single goal to be the top scorer in the 2016/17 Serie A season.
• He was at his prolific best in the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign where he netted 5 goals.
• Having spent his youth career with lower-league Belgian clubs, his first senior contract was a loan spell with Dutch third division side Eendracht Aalst.
• In the years that followed, he spent a long time at AGOVV, where dominating the opposition was the norm. In 2008, he won the Eerste Divisie best player award for his outstanding performances.
• While his time at Utrecht was eventful, Mertens became a goalscoring machine at PSV. Mertens scored 37 league goals in 62 games.

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