“give [British Asians] an opportunity to be successful on and off the pitch”
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Figure timeline
Mesut Özil
Mesut Özil 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 best midfielders of his generation.
sports · German footballer (born 1988) · also Mesut Özil, Özil
Born 15 October 1988 · Q83488
109 published statements · 0 followers
Updated 1 day agoSee & hear
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202623 items
“I always do that before I go out [on the pitch]. I pray and my teammates know that they cannot talk to me during this brief period.”
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“At the weekend, I was certain I would stay at Real Madrid but afterwards I realised I did not have the faith from the coach or the bosses. I am a player who needs this faith and that is what I have felt from Arsenal, which is why I have joined.”
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Mshale: Angel Di Maria Vs Mesut Ozil Career Compared ⚽ Mesut Ozil Vs Angel Di Maria Who Is Best Player ? Uae Attacks Iran (FgmITLcsOi)
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Mshale: Mesut Özil & Angel Di Maria | The Two Wonderboys (2010/2011) HD Carolina Di Monaco (7APOzBDWfE)
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Mshale: Thierry Henry, Mesut Özil And Arsène Wenger Celebrate Beside Mikel Arteta As Arsenal Lift The Trophy Tage Thompson (7fPI5FrMik)
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Mshale: Mesut Özil Vs Portugal (World Cup 2014) Ketanji Brown Jackson Solo Dissents (gy3wm8uJta)
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Mshale: 1988 Young Talents: "Angel Di Maria & Mesut Ozil" Sentence (CyxWRmy03I)
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Mshale: Mesut Özil Vs Argentina ( World Cup Final 2014 ) | English Commentary Hiv (s87WGt9ggX)
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Mshale: Alexis Sánchez & Mesut Özil - The Telepathic Duo Montreal (4JClucTpaO)
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TUDN: Mesut Özil se descose y explota contra el Arsenal
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Mshale: Mesut Özil Vs Brazil (World Cup 2014) HD 1080p Scottish Premier League (unCRyt1BHk)
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Mshale: Mesut Ozil & Petr Cech | UnClassic Commentary | Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle Utd Si Ting Yang (j90LY4z8py)
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Mshale: Andy Gray And Richard Keys On Mesut Ozil Future. Arsenal Vs Leicester Paul Goldschmidt (adJK4W9S9b)
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Tribuna.com: La última superestrella del Real Madrid que fichó por el Arsenal: el ascenso, la caída y lo que pudo haber sido de Mesut Özil
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Tribuna.com: The last Real Madrid superstar to join Arsenal: Mesut Ozil's rise, fall and what might have been
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Metro.co.uk: Vinicius Junior sent Mesut Ozil warning over Arsenal transfer
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Punch Newspapers: From Özil to Makelele: 15 Real Madrid stars to join Premier League clubs
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Defensa Central: Siro López: “Bellingham puede ser el Özil que tuvo Mourinho en el Madrid en 2010 y la dupla formada por Tchouameni y Rodri es el equivalente a la de Khedira con Xabi Alonso”
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GOAL: Like Mesut Özil once did: Jose Mourinho reportedly has a special plan for Arda Güler at Real Madrid
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Public attention spiked: 26,585 Wikipedia readers in one day, 7.2× the usual 3,690, with 0 article edits.
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Public attention spiked: 13,095 Wikipedia readers in one day, 3.5× the usual 3,690, with 3 article edits. Editors noted: Early life the reason his name is in full here is to reference the fact that it's his full name
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Public attention spiked: 11,341 Wikipedia readers in one day, 3.1× the usual 3,690, with 0 article edits.
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20254 items
Yahoo: How Mesut Özil became the master of transformation since he left football
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Yahoo! Sports: Real Madrid star overtook Mesut Özil during Copa del Rey victory
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Özil joined the governing Turkish Justice and Development Party as a board member
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In 2025, Özil joined the governing Turkish Justice and Development Party as a board member.
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20243 items
Yahoo! Sports: Real Madrid icon Mesut Özil sends messages to Spain & England after Euro final
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beIN SPORTS: Mesut Özil Mocks Atletico Madrid Over New "Blue Card"
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Despite being born and raised in Germany, Özil only held Turkish citizenship until the age of 19, when he renounced it in order to naturalize as a German citizen, as Germany generally did not tolerate dual citizenship until 2024, particularly for Turkish citizens.
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20232 items
The Guardian: An ode to Mesut Özil, the frictionless footballer not designed for the age of rage | Barney Ronay
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The Guardian: Mesut Özil calls time on career: ‘It’s time to leave the big stage of football’
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20221 item
Their second daughter, named Ela, was born in September 2022.
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20211 item
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
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20202 items
Won the English FA Cup with Arsenal (2019-2020).
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After Arsenal made longterm mascot Jerry Quy redundant, Özil offered to reimburse Arsenal for his salary if they rehired Quy, doing so due to their close friendship
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20194 items
Runner-up: UEFA Europa League with Arsenal (2018–19).
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They married in 2019, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was a witness during the ceremony.
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In July 2019, Özil and Arsenal teammate Sead Kolašinac were the victims of an attempted carjacking by a pair of armed masked men.
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And Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was a witness during the ceremony
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20184 items
Runner-up: EFL Cup with Arsenal (2017–18).
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Against Atlético Madrid, an Atlético fan threw a piece of bread at Özil while he was preparing to take a corner
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Alleging what he saw as discrimination and disrespect by the German Football Association (DFB) and German media
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During a Europa League match in 2018 against Atlético Madrid, an Atlético fan threw a piece of bread at Özil while he was preparing to take a corner. Özil picked up the bread, kissed it, and brought it to his forehead to express gratitude towards the food given to him, a central tenet in Islam.
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20176 items
Won the English FA Cup with Arsenal (2016-2017).
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Won: FA Cup with Arsenal (2016–17).
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Worked with the charity My Shining Star to make a child cancer patient's dreams come true
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In February 2017, Özil paid taxes in the required amount.
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And Özil began dating former Miss Turkey, Amine Gülşe
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However, they broke up in 2017 and Özil began dating former Miss Turkey, Amine Gülşe.
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20165 items
Won award: Premier League top assists provider (2015–16).
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Won award: Arsenal Player of the Season (2015–16).
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Won award: kicker Best German Abroad (2016).
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Won award: Germany national team Player of the Year (2016).
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In December 2016, as part of the release of the Football Leaks disclosure platform, it became known that the Spanish tax authorities had demanded back taxes of €2,017,152 from Mesut Özil.
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20159 items
Won the English FA Cup with Arsenal (2014-2015).
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Won the English FA Community Shield with Arsenal (2015).
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Won award: German Football Ambassador Public Award (2015).
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Won: FA Community Shield with Arsenal (2015).
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Won: FA Cup with Arsenal (2014–15).
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Won award: Germany national team Player of the Year (2015).
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Won award: PFA Fans Player of the Month (December 2015).
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Özil and Capristo appeared together at the Bambi awards ceremony in Berlin
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In 2015, Özil and Capristo appeared together at the Bambi awards ceremony in Berlin.
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20148 items
Won the English FA Cup with Arsenal (2013-2014).
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Won: FIFA World Cup with Germany (2014).
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Won award: Silbernes Lorbeerblatt (2014).
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Won: FA Cup with Arsenal (2013–14).
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Won award: Laureus Media Award (2014).
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As part of the BigShoe project, Özil donated his 2014 World Cup winnings, an estimated £240,000, to pay for 23 sick Brazilian children to have medical surgery as a "personal thank you for the hospitality of the people of Brazil."
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The relationship ended in 2014, following reports of Özil being involved with another woman.
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Following reports of Özil being involved with another woman
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20137 items
Won award: Germany national team Player of the Year (2013).
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Runner-up: Copa del Rey with Real Madrid (2012–13).
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Won award: UEFA Team of the Year (2013).
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Özil launched his own logo
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Özil started dating singer Mandy Capristo in 2013.
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Özil joined Arsenal for a fee of up to £42
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Özil signed a sponsorship deal with German sportswear and equipment supplier Adidas
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20127 items
Won: Supercopa de España with Real Madrid (2012).
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Won: La Liga with Real Madrid (2011–12).
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Won award: La Liga top assists provider (2011–12).
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Won award: UEFA Team of the Year (2012).
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Won award: Germany national team Player of the Year (2012).
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Won award: UEFA European Championship top assists provider (2012).
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Won award: UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament (2012).
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20113 items
Won award: Germany national team Player of the Year (2011).
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Won: Copa del Rey with Real Madrid (2010–11).
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Won award: UEFA Champions League top assists provider (2010–11).
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201010 items
Runner-up: DFB-Pokal with Werder Bremen (2009–10).
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Won award: Silbernes Lorbeerblatt (2010).
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Won award: FIFA World Cup top assists provider (2010).
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Won award: UEFA Europa League top assists provider (2009–10).
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Won award: Bundesliga top assists provider (2009–10).
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Third place: FIFA World Cup with Germany (2010).
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Won award: kicker Attacking Midfielder of the Year (2010).
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In 2010, Özil was awarded the Bambi for being a prime example of successful integration within German society.
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Özil was awarded the Bambi for being a prime example of successful integration within German society
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Joined Real Madrid in 2010.
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20095 items
Runner-up: UEFA Cup with Werder Bremen (2008–09).
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Won: UEFA European Under-21 Championship with Germany U21 (2009).
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Won: DFB-Pokal with Werder Bremen (2008–09).
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Won award: kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season (2008–09).
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At age 20, and appeared in five major tournaments
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20081 item
Joined Werder Bremen in 2008.
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20061 item
Joined Schalke 04 in 2006.
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20052 items
Özil moved to the youth system of Schalke 04
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Joined Schalke 04 in 2005.
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20001 item
Joined Rot-Weiss Essen in 2000.
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