Football fans across the globe were left in shock when Mesut Ozil announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 34.
The announcement was made on his official Twitter handle, where he expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to play football for 17 years.
Ozil’s retirement comes as a surprise to many, given his exceptional talent and contributions to the game.
He was widely regarded as one of the best attacking midfielders of his generation, known for his precise passing, vision, and creativity on the pitch.
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The announcement has sparked an outpouring of tributes from fans and players alike, with many hailing Ozil as a true legend of the game.
Real Madrid fans, where he played from 2010 to 2013, were among the first to pay tribute to him. Ozil played a vital role in Real Madrid’s success during his time there, helping the team win the La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Supercopa de España titles.
Arsenal fans, where Ozil played from 2013 to 2021, also expressed their admiration for him.
He was an integral part of the Arsenal team that won the FA Cup four times and the Community Shield once.
His creativity and skill on the pitch were unmatched, and he quickly became a fan favorite during his time at the club.
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Ozil’s retirement also drew praise from his current club, İstanbul Başakşehir, where he played since January 2021.
The Turkish club expressed their gratitude for his contributions to the team, stating that he had been a valuable member of the squad.
Well, we handpicked some reactions and tributes from his former clubs as well as his die-hard fans. So, enjoy them below:
Thank you ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Aqr4pB5SI2
— Mesut Özil (@M10) March 22, 2023
🇩🇪🤩 Mesut Ozil at his best made football look so easy
Thank you for the memories ❤️
@M10 | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/ejsomPmt1y
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) March 22, 2023
𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟:
2014 FIFA World Cup winner, Mesut Ozil has announced his retirement from football aged 34.
A legend leaves the beautiful game. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/LXYmnbcNU1
— iDiski Times (@iDiskiTimes) March 22, 2023
Ozil's announced his football retirement at age 34.
Fmr Arsenal, Real Madrid and Germany world cup winner 🥇 Mesut Ozil announced his immediate retirement from professional football. pic.twitter.com/Pjs94Jcj2M
— @Sports Prophet VI 🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺🇷🇺 (@SportsProphet9) March 22, 2023
Mesut Ozil is the only player in history who has been Top Assist Provider in Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga, Champions League, Europa League, Euro Cup and World Cup.
THE Assist King. pic.twitter.com/XfrkZT6kGq
— ` (@rahulmsd_91) March 22, 2023
Mesut Ozil is the only player in history to Top Assist Provider in Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga, Champions League, Europa League, Euro Cup and World Cup. One of the most underrated and under appreciated players of our generation.
697 games, 120 goals, 261 assists pic.twitter.com/C9DqJ3weq6
— ASHRAF the Phenomenon (@Is_me_Ashraf) March 22, 2023
🇩🇪🤩 Mesut Ozil at his best made football look so easy
Thank you for the memories ❤️
@M10 | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/1WxwLK3Dfd
— FIFA World Cup 2022! (@theygotguts) March 22, 2023
Mesut Özil has decided to retire from professional football. 🪄🇩🇪 #Özil
“I want to thank Schalke, Werder, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Fenerbahçe and Basaksehir, all my friends in football. It was an amazing journey”. pic.twitter.com/eN2HfzELTZ
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 22, 2023
Mesut Ozil retires as the only player to be top assister in Premier league, La liga, Bundesliga, Champions League, Europa League and the World cup.
👑 pic.twitter.com/v8Z9W0eYwA
— Tobi (@iamt0bi) March 22, 2023
Mesut Ozil has retired from football aged 34.
92 Germany caps – 23⚽️ 40🅰️
254 Arsenal apps – 44⚽️, 79🅰️
159 Real Madrid apps – 27⚽️, 81🅰️
108 Werder Bremen apps – 16⚽️, 54🅰️
World Cup x 1 🏆
FA Cup x 4 🏆
La Liga x 1 🏆
Copa del Rey x 1 🏆
DFB-Pokal x 1 🏆
What a player. pic.twitter.com/9V8ooETtUc
— Sporting Life FC (@SportingLifeFC) March 22, 2023
Still remember when a young German midfielder was making headlines in World Cup 2010
Then he became one of my favourite when he joined Real Madrid
His partnership with Cristiano ❤️
One of the most elegant player you’ll ever see
Happy Retirement Mesut Ozil#Ozil #MesutOzil pic.twitter.com/hSms09x2uL
— Vaibhav Sharma (@vaibhav_4x) March 22, 2023
World Cup winner Mesut Ozil has officially hanged his boots at the age of 34 years.
Fond memories of this philanthropic legend and icon of the game playing for Real Madrid and German national team.
All the best in your future undertakings. 🙏🙏🙏@M10
— Lloyd Onyango (@lloydOnyango) March 22, 2023
https://twitter.com/MuswenteBanda/status/1638509467267485698?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1638509467267485698%7Ctwgr%5E270d86b132ac7c5874da36b2485206a707610616%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ghanaweb.com%2FGhanaHomePage%2FSportsArchive%2FReal-Madrid-Arsenal-fans-pay-tribute-to-Ozil-as-he-announces-retirement-from-football-1735526
The German midfielder’s international career was equally impressive. He was a key player in the German national team that won the FIFA World Cup in 2014, playing a pivotal role in the final against Argentina.
He made 92 appearances for his country, scoring 23 goals in the process.
In conclusion, Mesut Ozil’s retirement marks the end of an era in football. He will always be remembered as one of the most talented players of his generation, whose skill and creativity on the pitch inspired millions of fans around the world. As fans continue to pay tribute to him, we wish Ozil all the best in his future endeavors.