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Mesut Özil Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 5, 2026 • 3 min read

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Quick Info

Date of birth15 October 1988

BirthplaceGelsenkirchen, West Germany

ProfessionProfessional Footballer

NationalityGerman

Marital statusUnmarried

FamilyFather - Mustafa Özil; Mother - Gulizar Özil; Brothers - Mutlu Özil; Sisters - Dugyu Özil and Nese Özil

Mesut Özil Biography

Mesut Özil is a German professional footballer of Turkish descent known for his playmaking ability. He rose to international prominence during the 2010 FIf

Early life and background

Mesut Özil was born on 15 October 1988 in Gelsenkirchen, West Germany. Raised by parents who emigrated from Turkey, he grew up in a multicultural environment and is of Turkish ethnicity. Özil attended the Berger-Feld school in Gelsenkirchen. He practices Islam and is known to observe elements of his faith publicly.

Physical profile

Özil stands about 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) tall and is listed at approximately 76 kg (170 lbs). He has dark brown hair and light brown eyes.

Career

Özil made his club debut on 12 August 2006 for FC Schalke 04 in a match against Eintracht Frankfurt. After two seasons with Schalke, he moved on to Werder Bremen, where he continued to develop as an attacking midfielder. In 2010 he transferred to Real Madrid and played there until 2013. That year he joined Arsenal in a high-profile move worth £42.5 million, a fee that at the time made him the most expensive German footballer.

On the international stage Özil debuted for Germany on 11 February 2009 in a friendly against Norway. He came to broad attention at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, where his creative play and assist numbers attracted global recognition and earned him a nomination for the tournament’s Golden Ball award. He has ranked at the top of assist charts in club competitions, including leading assists in 2010–11 across major European and domestic competitions with 25, and finishing 2011–12 as La Liga’s top assist provider with 17.

Özil has worn the number 10 jersey for Germany and wore number 11 during his time with Arsenal. He is primarily deployed as an attacking midfielder and is widely regarded for his vision and passing.

Public profile

Outside football, Özil is multilingual, speaking Turkish, German, English and Spanish. He has spoken publicly about his background and religion, and has engaged in charitable acts, including a reported donation to help medical treatment for Brazilian children. Over the years he has been linked in media reports with several romantic relationships and has been described in profiles as unmarried.

Controversies and international retirement

In 2018 Özil announced his retirement from international football in a public statement after criticism related to a widely shared photograph with the Turkish president. He criticized the response from parts of the German media and political figures before stepping away from the national team.

Latest updates

As of the information provided, Özil’s most recent notable career movements included his 2013 transfer to Arsenal. Other up-to-date personal details from the excerpt include that he has been described as living in London, England, and that his brother Mutlu Özil has acted in a managerial role in his life.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Mesut Özil, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded

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Recent Work

Arsenal signing

Transferred to Arsenal in 2013 for a fee reported at £42.5 million, becoming at the time the most expensive German footballer.

2013
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Career Highlights

  1. Debuted for FC Schalke 04 on 12 August 2006
  2. Germany international debut on 11 February 2009
  3. Nominated for the Golden Ball at the 2010 FIFA World Cup
  4. Led major competitions in assists in 2010–11 with 25 and topped La Liga assists in 2011–12 with 17
  5. Transferred to Arsenal in 2013 for £42.5 million
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Mesut Özil born?

Mesut Özil was born on 15 October 1988.

What is Mesut Özil known for?

Mesut Özil is known for professional Footballer.

What is Mesut Özil’s marital status?

Mesut Özil's marital status is listed as Unmarried.