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Mesut Ozil, the former German football star, has embarked on a striking new chapter by stepping into the political arena alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling AK Party. On Sunday, February 23, the 36-year-old retired midfielder—renowned for his stints at Real Madrid, Arsenal, and Werder Bremen—was named to the party’s Central Decision and Management Board during its congress, signaling a bold pivot from his sporting legacy.
Ozil, who boasts Turkish heritage, has long been a polarizing figure, especially in the twilight of his football career, due to his unabashed ties with Erdogan. This connection drew fierce criticism, most notably when he quit the German national team in 2018 amid a storm of controversy. The backlash peaked in 2023 after a provocative photo of him meeting Erdogan in London reignited debates over his allegiance to Germany, shortly before he hung up his boots for good.
The scrutiny reached a fever pitch ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, with some German politicians openly questioning his dedication to the national side and even calling for his exclusion. Undeterred, Ozil has leaned into his support for Erdogan, championing the president’s policies and rallying voters behind his re-election bid. Their bond goes beyond politics—Erdogan attended Ozil’s lavish 2019 wedding in Turkey, and the pair were spotted sharing a warm exchange at Berlin’s Olympiastadion in 2024 during a Netherlands-Turkey clash, underscoring their deep personal and ideological alignment as Ozil carves out his political path.
