Mesut Özil is a former professional footballer from Germany who played as an attacking midfielder, known for his technical skills, creativity, passing skills, and vision. He was born and raised in Gelsenkirchen and began his senior club career playing for his hometown club Schalke 04, before signing with Werder Bremen in 2008 at the age of 19. In his first season, he won the DFB-Pokal, and his individual performances earned him a move to Real Madrid in 2010.
During his time at Real Madrid, Özil helped the club win a La Liga title and ranked first in league assists for three consecutive seasons. In 2013, he became the most expensive German player ever when he signed for Arsenal in a transfer worth up to £42.5 million (€50 million). During his time in England, he won three FA Cups and helped end Arsenal’s nine-year trophy drought. He also recorded the second-most assists ever (19) in a Premier League season. In 2021, Özil joined Fenerbahçe on a free transfer and later signed with İstanbul Başakşehir after his contract with the club was terminated in 2022.
Özil is a German international who holds the record for the most German Player of the Year awards (5). He made his senior debut for the Germany national team in 2009 at the age of 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 reach the semi-finals twice. Özil also helped Germany win the 2014 FIFA World Cup, but retired from international competition in 2018, alleging discrimination and disrespect by the German Football Association (DFB) and the German media.
Table of Contents
Mesut Ozil Wiki
| Real Name/Full Name | Mesut Ozil |
| Nick Name/Celebrated Name: | Mesut Ozil |
| Birth Place: | Gelsenkirchen, Germany |
| Date Of Birth/Birthday: | 15 October 1988 |
| Age/How Old: | 34 years old |
| Height/How Tall: | In Centimetres – 177 cm In Feet and Inches – 5′ 9″ |
| Weight: | In Kilograms – 76 Kg In Pounds – 170 lbs |
| Eye Color: | Black |
| Hair Color: | Dark Brown |
| Parents Name: | Father – Mustafa Ozil Mother – Gulizar Ozil |
| Siblings: | Yes(3) |
| School: | N/A |
| College: | N/A |
| Religion: | Islam |
| Nationality: | German |
| Zodiac Sign: | Libra |
| Gender: | Male |
| Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
| Marital Status: | Married |
| Girlfriend: | N/A |
| Wife/Spouse Name: | Amine Gülşe Ozil |
| Kids/Children Name: | Yes(1)- Eda Ozil |
| Profession: | Footballer |
| Net Worth: | $150 Million |
Biography
Born on October 15, 1988, Mesut Özil is from the North Rhine-Westphalia called Gelsenkirchen. As a youth, he started playing football in various clubs here in his place of birth. It was generally during the years from 1995 to 2000.
Mesut Özil Religion
Before Mesut Özil stepped into the field, we had often seen him reciting from the Quran. Therefore Özil is a practicing Muslim.
Mesut Özil Age
Born on October 15, 1998, Mesut Özil is currently 34 years of age as of 2023.
Mesut Özil Height
1.8 m is the appropriate height of Mesut Özil, which equals 5 ft and 9 inches.
Mesut Özil Parents
Mesut Özil’s parents are Mustafa Özil and Gulizar Özil, his father and mother, respectively.
Club Career of Mesut Özil
As we all well know by now know that Mesut Özil has been a part of several famous clubs. These clubs were Schalke 04, Werder Bremen, Real Madrid, Arsenal, and Fenerbahçe. The various insights about his domestic career are listed below.
Mesut Özil & His Current Club
On March 22, 2023, Özil announced his retirement from professional football, citing recurrent injuries as the reason for his departure from the sport. As a result, he left the club he was playing for.
Özil in Schalke 04
It was in the year 2005 that Mesut Özil moved to the German club, Schalke 04. This club is a part of the German League, Bundesliga. Whenever Özil, wearing jersey number 17, got into the field, he made sure to entertain the crowd with his full potential. His charismatic dribbling skills, long passes, playmaking, and assists made people realize everywhere that he is one of the best. In Schalke 04, he usually played as a playmaker or as a central attacking midfielder.
But after playing for a couple of matches, he realized that he was not meant for a salary that less. Therefore, Özil started seeking opportunities in other clubs. He wanted a big move to some famous club. But his fight out with Schalke 04 forced him to accept an offer from Werder Bremen. Therefore, he moved there instantly. Here, Werder Bremen offered him a fee of €5 million, which was just €1.5 million when he was in Schalke 04.
Özil in Werder Bremen
Thus, it was in the year 2008 that Özil signed for the unpopular club Werder Bremen. But it did not turn out to be much good. However, he got the first domestic goal of his career in a match against Karlsruher SC. Therefore, it was his first Bundesliga goal. Due to his playmaking abilities, other clubs like Hannover 96 and VfB Stuttgart were interested in him too. But they could not pay such a huge transfer fee which Werder Bremen could. His ecstatic efforts helped his team to stay at the second position in the 2007-08 season. After that, there were several highs and lows in this club.
But his main objective of making people realize he was the best midfielder of his time was successful. His stats improved significantly as he also helped his team excel in the European League, UEFA cup. His star performance was significant to the entire team as people called him one of the best-attacking midfielders. As a result of which several popular clubs demanded him after the end of his contract in Werder Bremen. But Özil chose the best possible option for him. Therefore, he moved to one of the best clubs of all time and around the globe, Real Madrid.
Özil in Real Madrid
After his fantastic performance in his previous club, Werder Bremen, Özil switched his endeavors to Real Madrid. He had already booked himself in the European top talent list after his brilliant performance in the World Cup. Because of such a performance, several top clubs such as Barcelona, Manchester United, and Arsenal demanded him. He received such a huge reach that England’s star striker Rooney and Sir Alex Ferguson became fans. In other words, Rooney desperately wanted Mesut Özil in Man U., But his decision to move to RMA was the best indeed. It was because, over the years, he got to play with world-class players. These players were Ramos, Marcelo, Casillas, Alonso, Benzema, Bale, Kaka, and the world’s best player, Cristiano Ronaldo. Thus, under Ronaldo’s presence and Ozil’s assistance, RMA lifted the La Liga and UCL titles various times.
Among the several years he played for Real Madrid, 2014’s team was the best of all teams. That is what raised the rivalry between RMA and Barcelona – the EL Classico. When Mesut Özil moved to Real Madrid, he received a transfer fee of €15 million. People found him building excellent chemistry with the Argentine winger, Angel Di Maria, and striker Gonzalo Higuaín. The home crowd of RMA at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium never failed to cheer him up. He never failed to overwhelm the crowd either. He even ranked in the top 10 Balon d’Or list and had positive chances of winning. But it was only Ronaldo and Messi who shared the Balon d’Or award during that phase of time. This is because they always turned out to be the top scorers and won every title.
Özil in Arsenal
Having produced a sensational performance in the Spanish League, every large club wanted him. Özil was the leader in the number of assists in Real Madrid. This naturally helped him to grow a huge fan base. Thus, his fans regarded him as one of the best in the world then. After his contract expiration in RMA, he made a sensational move to the English Premier League’s team Arsenal. It was indeed another great move. Though he never wanted to leave Real Madrid ever in his life. He got the chance to play with world-class players there. Not only did he build chemistry with them, but he also got to learn from those legendary players. Thus, his time in RMA will always stay the best of his career. However, his move to Arsenal set up a completely new challenge for him.
His transfer to the EPL made him the most expensive German Footballer of all time. Mesut Özil usually played in the central midfield position in Arsenal. He started to display his form there as well, having scored in the opening games itself. He scored consecutively in the EPL, but he also scored in the opening UCL games. Therefore, once again, he earned his name as one of the Balon d’Or award contenders. His name was on the list alongside his former teammate and world’s best player, Cristiano Ronaldo. However, Ronaldo was on a completely different level at that time in Real Madrid. Hence, there was no way he could have defeated him to win the award. But to get shortlisted for Balon d’Or is a huge honor itself. His career at Arsenal ended on a high note, winning trophies, and assists awards before his contract terminated.
Özil in Fenerbahçe
Towards the end of his tenure in Arsenal, Mesut Özil faced huge difficulties in coping with his teammates. It was not based on performance, but it was based on distinctions. According to various reports, Mesut being a Muslim, was often the center of the target. The board did not select him even if they needed him, even on matches against weak teams. It was quite inevitable that discrimination was the factor. He was so disappointed that he took to Twitter for his fans to stand with him. Eventually, he had no other left other than to leave the club. Thus, Mesut Özil made a move to the Turkish club, Fenerbahçe, in the year 2021. He indeed was very happy to join the club.
Mesut Özil even said that at least here, he could wear his jersey with pride. Mesut Özil even disclosed his unending desire to play with the team since he was a child. Now that he was a part of the team, it was like a dream come true for Özil. Hence, ever since then, his contributions to the team have continued. Even though he was not at his very best, he tried when he was at Madrid or Arsenal. Özil started assisting and helping his team to victories and thus led them successfully towards a prosperous future.
Özil in İstanbul Başakşehir
On 14 July 2022, Özil signed a one-year contract with an option for an additional year with İstanbul Başakşehir.
On March 22, 2023, Özil announced his retirement from professional football, citing recurrent injuries as the reason for his departure from the sport. As a result, he left the club he was playing for.
International Career of Mesut Özil
During his international career, Mesut Özil was widely recognized as one of the best German players on the field. He led his team to many victories and helped them earn several trophies. Mesut had the opportunity to play alongside some of the world’s top players, including Miroslav Klose, Thomas Müller, Manuel Neuer, and Toni Kroos, among others. He combined with these top players and won numerous matches, making Germany the most feared team in the world. Germany has dominated football for many years, winning trophies after trophies, and Mesut was one of the key players who helped the team achieve such glory.
Mesut Özil is one of the few footballers who played in three consecutive World Cups, a feat that is not easy to accomplish. He was an icon of dominance in the 2010, 2014, and 2018 World Cups, respectively. In the 2010 World Cup, Mesut won the golden ball, and in the 2014 World Cup, he was the leader of passes. He also made a significant impact on the entire team in the 2012 and 2016 Euros, which they won. However, Mesut announced his retirement from international football after the 2018 World Cup due to political issues, protests, and criticisms. Sadly, we never got to see Mesut play on the field again, wearing his national jersey. Thus, an era of great talent came to an end.
| National Team | Debut Date | Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | Feb 11, 2009 | 92 | 23 |
| Germany U21 | Sep 7, 2007 | 16 | 5 |
| Germany U19 | Sep 5, 2006 | 11 | 4 |
Mesut Özil & His Stats
Over the years, Mesut Özil has conquered many feats and produced some excellent records. His main domestics stats improved drastically in his career in Fenerbahçe, Real Madrid, and Arsenal. The clubs were famous and rich, and he adapted to it quite well. The players who surrounded him there were of top class level as he had built up amazing chemistry with them. As a result of this, fans worldwide still keep inquiring about his statistics in those clubs. To know more about his statistics in various clubs, keep reading below.
Mesut Ozil Career Stats By Club
| Club | Apps | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal FC | 254 | 44 | 79 |
| Real Madrid | 159 | 27 | 81 |
| SV Werder Bremen | 108 | 16 | 54 |
| FC Schalke 04 | 39 | 1 | 5 |
| FC Schalke 04 U19 | 38 | 17 | – |
| Fenerbahce | 37 | 9 | 3 |
| Basaksehir FK | 7 | – | – |
| FC Schalke 04 II | 1 | – | – |
| Istanbul Basaksehir Reserve | 1 | – | – |
| Rot-Weiss Essen U19 | 1 | – | – |
Mesut Özil Transfermarkt
According to the latest transfer market news, the current market value of Mesut Özil is $4.40m. He is currently enjoying his play in Fenerbahçe. To know more about his transfer market news, click here.
Mesut Özil Market Value
$4.40m is the current market value of Mesut Özil.
Mesut Özil Net Worth
Aside from his success on the field, Ozil has also amassed a significant net worth over the years. According to reports, as of 2023, his net worth is estimated to be around $120 million. Ozil has earned a substantial amount of money from his professional football career, with his salary and endorsement deals contributing significantly to his wealth.
During his time at Arsenal, Ozil was one of the highest-paid footballers in the Premier League, earning a reported £350,000 per week. In addition to his salary, he has also had several lucrative endorsement deals with companies such as Adidas, Beats by Dre, and Mercedes-Benz.
Despite retiring from professional football in 2023, Ozil’s net worth is expected to continue growing due to his various business ventures and investments. He has already established himself as an entrepreneur, launching several successful ventures in the fashion and technology industries.
Mesut Özil and Enzo Ferrari
After the death of prestigious car brand owner Enzo Ferrari, Mesut Özil was born. The two look the same as each other, yet they are not related by blood.
Mesut Özil Wife/Children
Mesut Özil is a German former professional footballer of Turkish descent, who is widely regarded as one of the best attacking midfielders of his generation. He has won numerous titles and accolades throughout his career, and is known for his creativity, technical skills, and vision on the field. However, there is more to Mesut Özil’s life than just football, including his marriage to Amine Gülşe, a Swedish-Turkish actress and former Miss Turkey.
Özil and Gülşe first met in 2017, and began dating shortly after. They got engaged in 2018, and tied the knot in a lavish ceremony in Istanbul, Turkey in June 2019. The wedding was attended by many high-profile guests from the worlds of entertainment and sports, including Arsenal teammate Alexandre Lacazette and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Since their marriage, Özil and Gülşe have been inseparable, and are often seen together at various events and public appearances. They frequently post photos of each other on social media, and are known for their loving and supportive relationship. Gülşe has also been a source of inspiration for Özil, who has credited her with helping him become a better person and a better player.
In March 2020, the couple confirmed the birth of their first child, a daughter named Eda. Their second daughter, named Ela, was born in September 2022.
Retirement
On 22 March 2023, Mesut Özil, the former German midfielder, announced his retirement from professional football. The news came as a shock to his fans and fellow players alike, who had watched him dazzle on the pitch with his technical skills, creativity, and passing abilities.
Özil’s announcement of retirement comes after a series of injuries and setbacks that have limited his playing time. The former midfielder cited these recurring injuries as the reason for his decision to retire, stating that he wants to focus on his health and family.
“I have had an incredible journey in football, and I am grateful for all the opportunities that the sport has given me,” said Özil in a statement. “But now, it is time for me to step away from the game and focus on my health and family. I want to thank all the fans, teammates, and coaches who have supported me throughout my career. I will always cherish the memories I have made on the pitch.”
Özil’s retirement marks the end of an era for football fans around the world. His technical skills, creativity, and passing abilities on the pitch will be sorely missed. However, his decision to focus on his health and family is a reminder that there is more to life than just playing football. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors.
