Napoli: 'I'm proud of you for breaking my record' - Maradona praises Mertens

Diego Armamdo Maradona. An Argentine foot manager and retired pro footballer. He currently manages Argentine Primera División club Gimnasia de La Plata. Photo: Marcos Brindicci/Getty Images

Dries Mertens has been hailed for becoming Napoli's all-time highest goal scorer by Legend Diego Maradona.

For thirty years, Maradona has held the
club's top goal scorer record after netting 115 goals during his playing days for Napoli.

In December 2017, Hamsik surpassed him.
Hamsik move away from Napoli after scoring 121 goals and Mertens has stayed on the same number of goals since February.

Mertens eventually climbed above Hamsik's 121-goal record in the Coppa Italia match against Inter Milan, a match that ended 1 - 1 which saw Napoli scale through to the final of the tournament after winning on aggregate. Napoli will play against Serie A giants Juventus in the final of the Coppa Italia.

Former Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen put Inter Milan ahead from the corner kick spot in the 2nd minute and Mertens equalised in the 41st minute.

Via an Instagram video, Maradona said: “Hi Dries, my friend! I’m proud of you for breaking my record because, like this, Napoli get better every day,”

“I’d like us to have a team who surpass the ones I played in so we can win another Scudetto for the people of Naples.”

“Thanks for your kind words!", Mertens responded.

Mertens responded to Maradona's video - "Thanks for..." 👇