Mesut Ozil: From Midfield Maestro to Politics – What Happened to the former Arsenal star?

Mesut Ozil, once lauded as the world’s best number 10 and a key figure in Germany’s 2014 World Cup triumph, saw his final years in professional football marred by controversy and limited playing time.

Since his official retirement, the former Arsenal and Real Madrid playmaker has undergone a significant personal and professional transformation, venturing into fitness, business, and most recently, the world of Turkish politics.

Here’s a deep dive into the end of his illustrious career and his surprising new path.

What happened to Mesut Ozil’s football career?

Ozil’s final years on the pitch were characterized by a sharp decline in club playing time and highly controversial incidents on the international stage and at Arsenal, largely stemming from his willingness to engage in political commentary.

International retirement amid controversy

The first major turning point came in 2018. Prior to the FIFA World Cup, Ozil, who is of Turkish descent, and teammate Ilkay Gundoğan, posed for a photograph with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in London.

This sparked massive political debate and criticism in Germany, with many questioning his loyalty to the German state.

Following Germany’s poor performance and early exit from the World Cup, Ozil became a scapegoat.

He retired from international duty, releasing a statement that famously cited “racism and disrespect,” writing, “I am German when we win, but I am an immigrant when we lose.”

This explosive retirement sent shockwaves through German society and the German Football Association (DFB).

The Uighur comments and Arsenal fallout

His career at Arsenal faced a terminal blow in December 2019 when he publicly condemned China’s treatment of its Uighur Muslim minority on social media.

Using the background of the East Turkistan flag, he lamented the alleged persecution of Uighurs. The reaction was immediate and severe:

• China’s Response: Chinese state television immediately pulled coverage of Arsenal’s match against Manchester City. The Chinese Foreign Ministry accused Ozil of being “blinded and misled,” and his fan accounts and content were removed from Chinese social media and video games.
• Arsenal’s Reaction: The club swiftly distanced itself from its star player’s remarks, posting a statement on the Chinese social media platform Weibo that the comments were Ozil’s “personal opinion” and that the club “always adheres to the principle of not involving itself in politics.”
• This move drew heavy criticism from human rights advocates who accused Arsenal of “abandoning” Ozil to protect their commercial interests in China.

This highly political stance cemented his fall from favor at the club, and he was eventually frozen out of the team, excluded from the Premier League and Europa League squads for the 2020-2021 season.

He eventually moved to Turkish club Fenerbahçe in January 2021. However, injuries and further disagreements led to his contract being terminated in 2022.

A final short spell at İstanbul Başakşehir followed, before he announced his immediate retirement from professional football in March 2023 at the age of 34, citing persistent injuries.

What is Mesut Ozil doing now?

Since hanging up his boots, Özil has embraced several high-profile ventures, most notably an eye-catching physical transformation and a pivot to politics.

Incredible body transformation and fitness

One of the most talked-about changes has been his commitment to fitness. Özil has documented an impressive body transformation on social media, swapping football drills for heavy weightlifting. Working with a personal trainer, he has packed on a significant amount of muscle mass, stunning the football world with his muscular physique.

Entering the Turkish Politics

In a surprising and highly controversial move, Ozil officially entered politics in February 2025. He was appointed to the Central Decision and Management Board of Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), led by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who was also his best man at his wedding in 2019.

This decision marks a significant, and politically charged, new chapter in his life, cementing his alignment with the Turkish political sphere.

Business Ventures: The M10 brand

Beyond fitness and politics, Ozil remains active in the business world.

He continues to run his personal brand and is involved in eSports, owning his own team, M10.

Mesut Ozil: An unconventional post-football chapter

Mesut Ozil’s football journey was one of dazzling highs, a World Cup, La Liga titles, and multiple FA Cups and complex lows largely driven by his outspoken political views.

His post-career life reflects this complexity, moving from a celebrated football icon to a muscular fitness enthusiast and, now, a figure in high-stakes Turkish politics. It’s a next chapter that promises to be just as much in the spotlight as his playing days.