Image via @uefaeuro on Instagram
1.
Euro 2016 is starting to look like a breakthrough tournament for MarekHamšík.
The 28-year-old midfielder has been a sensation for Slovakia in the opening games of the European Championship, adding further fuel to the rumours that he could be a target for Real Madrid this summer.
As a player with an addiction to scoring wonder goals entering the best years of his career,Hamšík might just be one of football's next big things.
Here's 10 things you didn't know about MarekHamšík.
2.He's been hailed as the 'Slovakian Gareth Bale'
Ahead of Slovakia's opening game of Euro 2016 against Wales, the Slovakian media started to push comparisons betweenHamšík and Welsh superstar, Gareth Bale.
Like Bale did for Wales,Hamšík powered Slovakia to Euro 2016, scoring five goals in qualification and ending the run to France with a wondergoal in a shock 3-1 win over world champions, Germany.
Hamšík has also been linked with a summer move to Bale's current club, Real Madrid. Looks like they might get to know each other even better in the near future.
3.He's been Slovakian Footballer of the Year in 2013, 2014 and 2015
As one of Slovakia's leading lights,Hamšík has been named the country's footballer of the year for his efforts in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
He's scored 19 goals in 90 games for his country and starred in his country's surprising run at the World Cup in 2010, knocking Italy out of the tournament in a thrilling 3-2 win.
4.Silvio Berlusconi didn't sign him because he thought it'd harm his political career
Hamšík's performances for Napoli have long seen him tipped for a mega-money transfer and – according to reports in Italy – he came close to a move to AC Milan in 2011, only for Silvio Berlusconi to block it because he thought it'd harm his electoral chances in Naples.
5.He's one of the highest goalscorers in Napoli history
Despite playing a floating role in midfield, Marek Hamsikis actually the fifth highest goalscorer in Napoli's history with 98 goals in just over 400 games.
He's only failed to score more than goals twice in his nine seasons at the Naples club. He's third in the list of highest goalscorers for Slovakia's national team with 19 goals.
6.He only played one season in Slovakia before moving to Italy
The first club Hamsik joined was Slovan Bratislava in 2002 when he was 14-years-old. After playing only seven times for Slovan's first team – scoring one goal – he moved to SerieA side Bresciafor a fee of €500,000 when he was just 17-years-old.
After three seasons with Brescia – who got quickly relegated to Serie B – and 74 appearances, he moved to Napoli in 2007 for €5.5 million and made an instant impression, scoring 10 goals in 40 games.
7.Pavel Nedved called Hamsik his "heir"
Czech football legend Pavel Nedved has kept a close eye on Serie A since retiring and he called Hamsik his "heir" when asked about the Napoli man in 2010:
"Hamsik is my heir. He is the footballer who most resembles me in terms of his characteristics and style of play."
8.He's already a legend in Napoli
Hamsik's arrival in Naples has coincided with the greatest spell of success for Napoli since Diego Maradonagraced the club in the 1980s.
In his time at Napoli, Hamsik has won the Coppa Italia twice (2011/12, 2013/14) and one Supercoppa Italia title (2014). He's also finished in the Serie A team of the year once (2010/11) and finished with the highest number of assists in Italy twice (2012/13, 2014/15).
While he's often been second billing to the likes of Edinson Cavani and Gonzalo Higuain during his time at the club, his longevity and loyalty to the club has written him into the history books in the eyes of Napoli's ultras.
9.He's been robbed at gunpoint in Italy twice
While his time at Napoli has largely been positive, Hamsik has also been on the wrong end of drama on two notorious occasions.
In two seperate incidents – in 2008 and 2013 – Hamsik was stopped in his car by masked criminals and told hand over his €10,000 Rolex at gunpoint. His former teammates Ezequiel Lavezzi and Edinson Cavani were both targeted at similar times, but the events didn't cause Hamsik to fall out of love with the city.
10.He's not a massive fan of Rafa Benitez
While Rafa Benitez has earned legions of fans for his work with Liverpool and Newcastle in the Premier League, Marek Hamsik wasn't his biggest fan during the Spaniard's time in charge of Napoli between 2013 and 2015.
Speaking after Benitez's departure for Real Madrid, Hamsik said of Rafa's tactics:
"[Our new manager] has a style that is very different to Rafa Benitez. Now I won't have to play with my back to goal anymore."
11.His hair has become iconic
Marek Hamsik'sstand-out 'La Cresta' hairstyle has become iconic in Italy – and it's even been used as a motivational tool for both Napoli and Slovakia.
Hamsik has made a habit of promising to cut his hair off if his teams achieved feats of excellence. He pledged to shave it off if Slovakia qualified for the World Cup in 2010 and if Napoli won the Coppa Italia two years later – he followed through on his promise on both occasions.
