Mesut Ozil has retired from professional football, with his legacy going beyond the black and white stats of his storied career.
On Wednesday, the enigmatic midfielder confirmed he would be hanging up his boots aged 34. Ozil’s retirement from the game comes after an unsuccessful period in Turkey, first with boyhood club Fenerbahce and then most recently, Istanbul Basaksehir.
The World Cup winner paid tribute to each of his clubs in an emotional statement posted to social media: "I've had the privilege to be a professional football player for almost 17 years now and I feel incredibly thankful for the opportunity.
