ISTANBUL: Former Germany midfielder Mesut Özil, who won the World Cup in 2014, retired from soccer Wednesday at the age of 34.
Özil said injuries played a role in his decision.
“I’ve had the privilege to be a professional football player for almost 17 years now and I feel incredibly thankful for the opportunity,” Özil wrote on social media. “But in recent weeks and months, having also suffered some injuries, it’s become more and more clear that it’s time to leave the big stage of football.”
His immediate retirement brings an early end to his season with Turkish club Istanbul Basaksehir, where he made only seven appearances for the team.
Özil won the Spanish league title with Real Madrid in 2012 and the FA Cup four times with Arsenal. His international career ended abruptly in 2018 when he quit the Germany squad citing “racism and disrespect.”
That followed anti-Turkish comments from German politicians and abuse from some fans toward Özil, who has Turkish heritage, amid criticism of his decision to pose for a picture with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the run-up to the 2018 World Cup.
Özil started his career in Germany with hometown club Schalke before a good spell at Werder Bremen earned him a spot on the German national team. Standout performances for Germany at the 2010 World Cup were followed by a move to Madrid. He then had an eight-year stint with Arsenal.
Özil moved to Turkish club Fenerbahce in 2021 after his relationship with Arsenal broke down. He was left out of the Arsenal squad for months before his departure following a rift with manager Mikel Arteta. The club also distanced itself from Özil for posting his support for Muslims in the Xinjiang province of China, comments which led to an Arsenal game being pulled from Chinese television.
Former Germany midfielder Mesut Özil retires at 34
https://arab.news/v49ve
Former Germany midfielder Mesut Özil retires at 34
- Özil said injuries played a role in his decision
- His immediate retirement brings an early end to his season with Turkish club Istanbul Basaksehir
Barcelona win record 16th Spanish Super Cup title after end-to-end El Clasico in Jeddah
- 60,326 fans witness thrilling El Clasico final at Al-Inma Stadium
- 3 goals in first-half stoppage time mark Saudi Arabia encounter
JEDDAH: To describe the latest edition of El Clasico in Jeddah as a night to remember would be a severe understatement.
Barcelona extended their record at the top of the Spanish Super Cup honors table, claiming a 16th title with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Real Madrid in another unforgettable chapter of football in Saudi Arabia.
The night began with a striking opening ceremony, featuring a light show and holographic projections across the sky. “From Jeddah, We Celebrate You,” read one message, as fans illuminated Al-Inma Stadium in shades of blue, red and white.
Despite the scoreline, the opening half hour was relatively subdued. Barcelona held nearly 80 percent of the ball, but clear chances were limited. A “Messi” chant by Barcelona fans in the 10th minute was one of the few moments to break the tension.
It was a Raphinha miss that ended up igniting the proceedings. Lamine Yamal threaded a curling through-ball in the 34th minute that found the Brazilian one-on-one with Thibaut Courtois, only for his effort to be dragged wide of the post.
Only seconds later did Barcelona capitalize. Fermin Lopez’s press won the ball back in Real Madrid’s half, laying it off to Raphinha, who took a few touches before striking past Courtois through Aurelien Tchouameni’s legs to open the scoring.
Few expected an immediate response, but Vinicius Jr. delivered one. Collecting the ball on the edge of Barcelona’s half, the Brazilian carried it over 60 meters toward goal before evading Jules Kounde and Pau Cubarsi to finish past Joan Garcia in the second minute of first-half stoppage time.
Barcelona struck back instantly. Pedri, spotting Robert Lewandowski’s movement between the Real Madrid center-backs, laid off a through-ball to release him with perfect timing as the Polish striker delicately lobbed it past Courtois to restore the Blaugrana’s lead.
The frantic first half, however, did not end there. In the final moments of stoppage time, Rodrygo’s corner was met by Dean Huijsen, whose header crashed off the crossbar. Amid the scramble for the rebound, Gonzalo Garcia reacted quickest to fire in the goal and bring Los Merengues back on level terms.
The second half unfolded at a more controlled pace, with both sides mindful of the spaces left exposed earlier. Vinicius remained Real Madrid’s most dangerous outlet — cutting in from the left on multiple occasions — while Yamal and Raphinha continued to torment the opposition in the channels.
The most anticipated player of the night was yet to enter the pitch. As Kylian Mbappe took to the sidelines to warm up, the crowd roared its appreciation.
The din did not die down, as a controversial tackle by Raul Asencio on Pedri on the counter right after, led to a loud response from fans and players, before the referee settled on a yellow.
Despite four goals scored, the goalkeepers dominated the proceedings, with Courtois and Garcia combining for 11 saves on the night.
Ultimately, one of them was beaten. As Raphinha aimed for a shot outside the box in the 73rd minute, he slipped as he struck the ball, only for his shot to deflect off Asencio, wrong-footing Courtois and finding the net for what proved to be the winner.
Xabi Alonso introduced Mbappe soon after, but there was only so much the Frenchman could do with little preparation and less than 15 minutes remaining. Real Madrid pressed late, only to be repeatedly denied by Garcia.
Drama returned in stoppage time when Frenkie de Jong was sent off following a heavy challenge on Mbappe, leaving Barcelona to defend with 10 men. It was now or never for Los Blancos.
In the fifth minute of stoppage time, they threw numbers forward, causing confusion following a low cross by Arda Guler, but Alvaro Carreras’ effort went straight to the hands of Garcia.
One final chance followed. Mbappe received the ball from a corner, lifting it toward Asencio on the edge of the 5.5-meter box for a clear header at goal.
Garcia, however, would rise once more to make his seventh and final save of the match, sealing victory for Barcelona and confirming their record-extending 16th Spanish Super Cup title.
