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Too much bad luck with injuries: ex-World Cup winner Mesut Özil ends career

Mesut Özil could not hide his resentment towards the German Football Association even in his resignation letter. While the 34-year-old former 2014 World Cup winner bid farewell to the German national team with a series of pictures, any gesture towards the federation was missing. Although his greetest sporting triumph was undoubtedly winning the World Cup final in Rio de Janeiro.

So the sting still seems to run deep. Before the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia, Özil had his picture taken with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. There was a rift with the DFB, but many fans also turned their backs on Özil. He officially resigned from the team after the national team’s preliminary round exit.

On social media, Özil released the statement on his departure, coupled with a look back at 17 years of professional sport: “Over the past weeks and months, during which I have also suffered a number of injuries, it has become increasingly clear to me that it is time to leave the big football stage. It has been an incredible journey full of unforgettable moments and emotions. “

The official Twitter account of the DFB and the DFB team did not initially react to the decision. DFB defender Antonio Rüdiger stepped into the breach. He wrote on Twitter that he would tell his children how privileged he was to have shared the pitch with one of the most talented players he had ever seen.

After his beginnings as a professional with FC Schalke 04 and his first major appearances with Werder Bremen, Özil went on to win a Spanish championship with Real Madrid and four cups with Arsenal FC in England.

Özil moved to Turkey in 2021, first to Fenerbahce Istanbul. He then played for Basaksehir Istanbul in the Turkish first division in 2022.

By Thomas