The World Cup trophy in his hands, the winner’s medal on his bare chest – Mesut Özil said goodbye to his career with a picture of his finest hour as a professional footballer. At the age of 34, the 2014 world champion ended his career on Wednesday “after careful consideration” with immediate effect and also greeted the German national team in a series of pictures. However, Özil found no room in his resignation letter for words of thanks to the German Football Association. The quarrel with the association and parts of the German fan base apparently continued to have an effect on the 92-time national player until the last day of his professional life. A look back at the professional career of one of football’s greatest footballers.
The football genius from Gelsenkirchen resigns: the stages of Mesut Özil’s career in pictures
