🎥 Mertens retires, final match alongside Hamsik 😭
Dries Mertens has decided to retire: the Belgian sprite who made recent history with Napoli has ended his career with his experience at Galatasaray.
The announcement, after a few weeks of reflection, came in a very unique and special way. Mertens, in fact, will play for the last time in Marek Hamsik's farewell match to be held in Bratislava.
'I can't wait to play the last match with you. I have stopped playing football but for the last time, I will put on my shoes just for you. For me, you will always remain my captain and the strongest man I have played with.'
MERTENS' NUMBERS
Dries Mertens had a brilliant football career, distinguishing himself especially with Napoli's jersey. With the Neapolitan club, he became the top scorer in history, scoring 135 goals in 397 appearances across all competitions.
In his career, he surpassed 300 goals between club and national team, also playing for teams like PSV Eindhoven, Galatasaray, and representing Belgium in various international competitions, including the European Championship and World Cup. His versatility, speed, and dribbling skills made him one of the most complete and beloved forwards of his generation.
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This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.
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How they stand: Results: Manchester City 2-0 Wydad AC, Al Ain 0-5 Juventus, Juventus 4-1 Wydad, City 6-0 Al Ain. Remaining fixtures: Juventus v Manchester City & Wydad AC v Al Ain; both on June 26 (3pm ET; 8pm UK time). Juventus: The Italian side have qualified for the last 16. Avoid defeat to City and they will finish top of the group. Manchester City: The English club have qualified for the last 16. Wydad AC: The Moroccan side have been eliminated. Al Ain: The club from the United Arab Emirates have been eliminated. How they stand: Results: Real Madrid 1-1 Al Hilal, Pachuca 1-2 Red Bull Salzburg, Madrid 3-1 Pachuca, Salzburg 0-0 Al Hilal. Remaining fixtures: Al Hilal vs Pachuca, Salzburg vs Madrid; both on June 26 (9pm ET; 2am on June 27 UK time). Real Madrid: If the Spanish club avoid defeat, they will qualify for the knockout stage. If they lose, they will still go through if Al Hilal fail to win, but would be eliminated if the Saudi Arabian club beat Pachuca. 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If they pick up three points and Salzburg-Madrid finishes level, then whichever of Al Hilal and Salzburg scored more goals in matches between themselves and Madrid will advance alongside the Spanish club. This means that if it is 0-0 in the Salzburg-Madrid match, then Al Hilal will go through and if it is 2-2 or higher, Salzburg will advance. If it is 1-1, then whoever out of Al Hilal and Salzburg has the higher overall goal difference in all group matches will advance alongside Madrid, meaning a two-goal win would send the Saudi Arabian side through. A one-goal win for Al Hilal, in the event of Salzburg-Madrid being 1-1, would mean that whoever out of Al Hilal and Salzburg has scored more goals in all group matches will advance alongside Madrid. Pachuca: The club from Mexico have been eliminated. 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