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Name

Mesut Özil

(Mesut Oezil)

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Born
1988 (37 years old)
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Gelsenkirchen, Germany

Position
Attacking Midfield

Status
Retired

Ethnicity
White

Team Number

Height
1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)

Weight
70 kg (154 lb)

Outfitter
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Kit

Side
Left

Agent
Family & Football

Market Value
Free

Wage Year

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Sport

Soccer

Team
_Retired Soccer

League
_No League

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Creative Commons logo

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Description

Mesut Özil (born 15 October 1988) is a German former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. Known for his ball control, technical skills, creativity, passing skills, and vision, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders and playmakers of his generation. He could also play as a wide midfielder.

Born and raised in Gelsenkirchen, Özil began his senior club career playing for hometown club Schalke 04, before signing with Werder Bremen in 2008, aged 19. After winning the DFB-Pokal in his first season, his individual performances led to a move to Real Madrid in 2010. There, he helped the club win a La Liga title, and ranked first in league assists for three straight seasons. In 2013, Özil signed for Arsenal in a transfer worth up to £42.5 million (€50 million), becoming the most expensive German player ever at the time. It was also a club-record transfer fee for Arsenal until 2017. In England, he won four FA Cups and helped end Arsenal's nine-year trophy drought, while recording the second most assists ever (19) in a Premier League season. In 2021, Özil joined Fenerbahçe on a free transfer; after his contract with the club was terminated in 2022, he signed with İstanbul Başakşehir, before retiring in 2023.

A German international for over nine years, Özil holds the record for the most German National Team Player of the Year awards (five). He made his senior debut for the Germany national team in 2009 at age 20, and appeared in five major tournaments. He was the top assist provider at the 2010 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2012, where he helped Germany twice reach the semi-final. Özil helped Germany win the 2014 FIFA World Cup, but retired from international competition in 2018, alleging what he saw as discrimination and disrespect by the German Football Association (DFB) and German media.

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Table

Trophies

English FA Cup	Arsenal	2019-2020
English FA Cup	Arsenal	2016-2017
English FA Community Shield	Arsenal	2015
English FA Cup	Arsenal	2014-2015
FIFA World Cup	Germany	2014
English FA Cup	Arsenal	2013-2014
UEFA Team of the Year	Real Madrid	2013
UEFA Team of the Year	Real Madrid	2012
Spanish Supercopa de Espana	Real Madrid	2012
Spanish La Liga	Real Madrid	2011-2012
Spanish Copa del Rey	Real Madrid	2010-2011
UEFA European Under-21 Championship	Germany U21	2009
German DFB-Pokal	Werder Bremen	2008-2009

Milestones

Arsenal Player Of The Season	Arsenal	2016-05-20

Former Youth Teams

Rot-Weiss Essen	2000-2005	Youth	-	-
Schalke 04	2005-2006	Youth	-	-

Former Senior Teams

Schalke 04	2006-2008	Permanent	-	-
Germany U21	2007-2009	International	-	-
Werder Bremen	2008-2010	Permanent	-	-
Germany	2009-2018	International	-	-
Real Madrid	2010-2013	Permanent	-	-
Arsenal	2013-2021	Permanent	-	-
Fenerbahce	2021-2022	Permanent	-	-
Istanbul Basaksehir	2022-2023	Permanent	-	-