Ex-Arsenal and Real Madrid ace Mesut Ozil reveals best-ever XI of team-mates but leaves out top stars
MESUT OZIL announced his shock retirement aged 34 to call on time on an illustrious career.
The German playmaker ended his playing days with Istanbul Basaksehir, taking to social media with a lengthy statement.
He cited his recent injury woes as one of the key reasons behind his decision.
And Ozil thanked each of his clubs for his 18-year professional career.
In that time, he has played at Schalke, Werder Bremen, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Fenerbahce and then Basaksehir – as well as winning the World Cup and 92 caps for Germany.
And that has meant Ozil can boast an impressive list of former team-mates.
But who does he rank as his greatest-ever XI of football pals – and what has he said about each player?
Speaking to Arsenal’s YouTube channel in 2015, here is Mesut Ozil’s best XI of team-mates.
GK: Iker Casillas
The pair played together at Real Madrid, where Casillas spent the majority of his incredible club career and captained Los Blancos.
Ozil: “He has often demonstrated that he belongs among the best goalkeepers in the world.”
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RB: Philipp Lahm
The versatile German could play at full-back on either side or in midfield – and did it all superbly, racking up 113 Germany caps.
Ozil: “He’s always been very steady, I’ve played alongside him and he’s one of the best full-backs in the world.”
CB: Sergio Ramos
As Ozil pulled the strings going forward, Ramos helped keep plenty of clean sheets at the back during their time together at the Bernabeu.
Ozil: “For me, he’s the best centre-back in the world.”
CB: Jerome Boateng
Ozil played with Per Mertesacker more than anyone else in his career – 235 times for 18,592 minutes for Arsenal, Werder Bremen and Germany – but it is another international defender who gets the nod in Boateng.
Ozil: “He also belongs among the best.”
LB: Marcelo
The Brazilian made the left-back position his own at Real Madrid with 546 appearances across 16 trophy-laden seasons.
Ozil: “I’ve never seen a defender as technically gifted as him.”
CM: Santi Cazorla
Ozil knows a thing or two about technical quality and so we should trust his call on Cazorla, who could take corners with either foot during their time together at Arsenal.
Ozil: “He’s outstanding technically.”
CM: Xabi Alonso
The former Liverpool man bossed the Real Madrid midfielder for a generation and alongside Sami Khedira provided the shield and supply line for Ozil’s magic.
Ozil: “I’ve never seen another player with his ability to play such fantastic passes.”
RW: Angel Di Maria
Di Maria may have struggled to hit his top form at Manchester United but was a world beater with Ozil at Real Madrid – and is now a world champion.
Ozil: “He’s outstanding technically, is very determined and always wants to be successful.”
CAM: Serge Gnabry
This may be a questionable inclusion given Gnabry certainly did not hit his best form alongside Ozil at the Emirates – but there is a logical explanation for the fellow German’s inclusion…
Ozil: “… because he’s sitting right here!”
LW: Cristiano Ronaldo
No surprises, here, that Ronaldo makes the XI, enjoying the best years of his sensational career at the Bernabeu, as the German got to witness the greatness from close range.
Ozil: “He’s currently world player of the year, he scores lots of goals and he’s very ambitious.”
ST: Karim Benzema
Another man to have won trophies galore for Los Blancos and still performing at the top of his game, especially delivering the goods in the Champions League.
Ozil: “For me, he’s the most complete striker.”
Best of the rest
But there are plenty of huge names to miss out on a spot in the all-star XI.
That includes his former Arsenal team-mates Alexis Sanchez, Alexandre Lacazette, Jack Wilshere, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Petr Cech.
Also snubbed are Real Madrid heroes Kaka, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Pepe.
And of his World Cup-winning Germany compatriots, Manuel Neuer, Mario Gotze, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Thomas Muller all fail to make the team.