Dries Mertens couldn't hold back his tears during Galatasaray's title celebration. The 38-year-old Belgian is out of contract this summer and was visibly emotional as he walked across the pitch with his son in his arms. Victor Osimhen's daughter also played a part in the championship match for Cim Bom.
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In Istanbul, under the lights of a packed Rams Park and in front of tens of thousands of roaring fans, Galatasaray secured yet another page in their illustrious history with a dominant 3-0 win over Kayserispor.
The result not only sealed their 24th Turkish Süper Lig title but also completed a coveted domestic double, having already lifted the Turkish Cup just a week earlier. But beyond the trophies and the statistics, the night belonged to emotions, families, and possibly, farewells.
At the heart of it all stood Dries Mertens. The 38-year-old Belgian forward, who joined Galatasaray in 2022 after a legendary spell at Napoli, found himself overwhelmed by emotion after the final whistle. As fireworks lit up the sky and chants of “Mertens! Mertens!” echoed from the stands, the veteran collapsed into tears, cradling his three-year-old son Ciro in his arms.
Though Mertens has enjoyed a decorated career across the Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, and now Turkey, this moment represented something entirely new: it was the first time he had won both the national league and the domestic cup in the same season. With PSV Eindhoven, he won the KNVB Cup once. In Napoli, he added two Coppa Italia titles. But the elusive double had always remained out of reach until now.
This may help explain the emotional outpouring from the forward, known for his creativity, humble demeanor, and fierce loyalty to the clubs he represents. Yet, there may be deeper reasons behind the tears. Mertens’ contract with Galatasaray officially runs until June 2025, but speculation has been swirling in the Belgian press that he may choose to retire sooner. Physical fatigue, a desire to spend more time with his family, and the sense of closure that comes with such a perfect season have all been floated as possible motivations.
The Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad went as far as to suggest that this could have been Mertens’ “final masterpiece.” And if it was, it would be a fitting finale. The image of a tearful Mertens parading around the stadium with his son a boy named after his beloved Napoli home, Ciro was one that will stay in the memories of Galatasaray fans for years to come.
But the night wasn’t just about Mertens. It was a celebration of family, legacy, and generational joy and Nigerian superstar Victor Osimhen made sure of that. The 26-year-old striker, widely regarded as one of the most dangerous forwards in the world, added a goal to the occasion his 25th of the season with a trademark header from a corner, powerfully driven into the net.
What followed was perhaps the most heartwarming moment of the evening: as the crowd erupted in celebration, a small but clear voice rang out through the stadium speakers it was Hailey Osimhen, Victor’s young daughter, announcing her father’s name in a pre-recorded message. The moment perfectly captured the soul of the evening: a night where goals and trophies mattered, but family and emotion mattered more.
While Hailey’s voice symbolized the continuation of legacy, Ciro Mertens made his own contribution to the festivities. After the match, the three-year-old delighted Turkish fans by giving out autographs from his mother’s arms in the stands a playful, touching gesture that further endeared the Mertens family to the Gala faithful.
Galatasaray’s triumph marks a continuation of their dominance in Turkish football. Their 24 league titles place them well ahead of rivals Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş, and under the current management, the club has found a balance between experience and youth. Alongside veterans like Mertens and Mauro Icardi, the team has also developed emerging talents and remained tactically adaptable a key factor in their success this season.
Coach Okan Buruk has received praise for his ability to manage egos, rotate the squad intelligently, and maintain a winning mentality across all competitions. The Turkish Cup victory earlier in the month gave Gala a confidence boost, and their league campaign was a model of consistency, marked by key wins against direct rivals and minimal slip-ups.
The question now is what the future holds. Will Mertens return for one final season? Will Osimhen stay at Napoli or be tempted by a move to Istanbul, given his warm reception and emotional presence on the night? And how will Galatasaray build on this success to make a serious impact in Europe something that has eluded them in recent years?
Whatever the answers may be, one thing is certain: this was a night to remember. A night where football intersected with fatherhood, where tears of joy mixed with chants of glory, and where the legacy of players was not only measured in goals and titles, but in the eyes of their children watching from the sidelines, announcing their names, and signing autographs of their own.
Updated: 12:23, 19 May 2025
