BIOGRAPHY AND CAREER
MESUT OZIL born 15 October 1988 is a footballer who plays for Spanish La Liga club Real Madrid and for the German national team. Ozil has been a youth national team member since 2006, when he debuted for first professional league season and a member of the German national team since 2009. He gained international attention during the 2010 FIFA World Cup and was nominated for the Golden Ball Award which is awarded to the tournament's best player. Following his breakout performance at the World Cup, he was transferred to Real Madrid in August 2010.
His nicknames include “der neue Diego” – the new Diego – in reference to Brazilian Diego Ribas da Cunha whose playmaker-role he inherited at Werder Bremen,"German Messi" and "German Zidane"
In September 2006, Özil was called up for the Germany U-17 team. Özil has been a member of the German U-21 team since 2007. On 29 June 2009, Özil was selected the man of the match in a 4–0 win over England during the U-21 European Championship final.
He made his debut for the Germany national football team during a friendly match against Norway on 11 February 2009. He scored his first goal for the senior team in his third appearance, another friendly, against South Africa on 5 September in Leverkusen.
Mesut Özil playing for Germany.
He was selected for the Germany national squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, starting in all of the teams games. He scored a left-footed half-volley from the edge of the 18 yard box against Ghana in the final group game, ensuring Germany progressed to the second round as group winners. On 27 June 2010, he played in Germany's win over England in the last 16 match, setting up the fourth goal with a cross to Thomas Müller as Germany triumphed 4–1.During the quarter-final match against Argentina he assisted the second goal for Miroslav Klose with a low cross to make it 4–0 to the Germans. Germany went on to win the match 4–0. FIFA announced him as one of the ten nominations for the Golden Ball.
Personal information
Full name: Mesut Özil
Date of birth: 15 October 1988 (1988-10-15) (age 22)
Place of birth: Gelsenkirchen, West Germany
Height: 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position: Attacking midfielder
Club information
Current club: Real Madrid
Number: 23
Youth career
1995–1998 Westfalia 04 Gelsenkirchen
1998–1999 Teutonia Schalke-Nord
1999–2000 Falke Gelsenkirchen
2000–2005 Rot-Weiss Essen
2005–2006 Schalke 04
Senior career*
2006–2008 Schalke 04 30 (0)
2008–2010 Werder Bremen 71 (13)
2010– Real Madrid 28 (5)
National team‡
2006–2007 Germany U19 11 (4)
2007–2009 Germany U21 16 (5)
2009– Germany 22 (3)
