Former Real Madrid star and 2014 FIFA World Cup winner Mesut Ozil has announced his retirement from football aged 34.
The former Germany star confirmed his immediate retirement from the sport after almost 17 years since making his professional debut for Schalke.
The playmaker enjoyed a glittering career, winning titles in Germany, Spain, and England. However, his biggest success came with the national when he played an instrumental part in Die Manschaft's World Cup-winning campaign in Brazil in 2014.
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He has been voted German Player of The Year a record five times in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016.
Thank you ?? pic.twitter.com/Aqr4pB5SI2
— Mesut Özil (@M10) March 22, 2023
The midfielder was thrust into the spotlight at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, where would go on to make the joint-most assists in the tournament. After an impressive display at the tournament, he was signed by Real from Werder Bremen for €18 million (R357 million) in August that year.
He spent three years at the Santiago Bernabeu, amassing 27 goals and 81 assists in 159 appearances before joining Arsenal for a then-club record fee of €47 million (R934 million).
He played 254 matches for the Gunners and won four FA Cups, and he later moved to Turkey, where his parents are from, to spend the last two years with Fenerbahce and more recently Istanbul Basaksehir.
He finishes his career with 114 goals and 222 assists at club level, according to Transfermarkt.
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