Mesut Ozil enters Turkish politics with ruling party
On 25 february, he was elected to the central council of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), the party announced.
Mesut Ozil, the former Germany, Real Madrid, and Arsenal star who retired in 2023, has officially entered Turkish politics.
On 25 february, he was elected to the central council of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), the party announced.
The 2014 World Cup winner, born in Germany to Turkish parents, was elected during a party congress in Ankara, where Erdogan secured re-election as the AKP's leader for the ninth time.
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Ozil has long been a vocal supporter of Erdogan, even choosing him as best man at his 2019 wedding to Amine Gülşe, a former Miss Turkey. A photograph of Ozil and Erdogan alongside Ilkay Gundogan, Ozil's former Germany teammate of Turkish origin, sparked controversy in Germany, with critics accusing Erdogan of authoritarianism. The image also drew backlash from Germany's far-right.
Once celebrated as a symbol of multicultural Germany, Ozil distanced himself from the German national team after the fallout. He accused the German Football Association of racism, ultimately ending his international career under a cloud of controversy.
