The Rise and Fall of Mesut Ozil

Introduction

Mesut Ozil at his prime is often regarded as one of the best soccer players. His stylistic gameplay and extraordinary vision on the field made him one of a kind. Nicknamed “The Assist King” and compared to Messi, Ozil was on a track destined for greatness. 

However with his devastating back injury and the psychological issues that followed, Ozil's career slowly fell off. 

Rise to success

Mesut Ozil’s journey began in 1988 Gelsenkirchen, Germany. As the son of Turkish immigrants, Ozil found his passion in soccer playing streetball with his friends. Eventually he was picked up by scouts and was able to join the youth academy of one of the best German clubs, Schalke 04. Demonstrating his immense potential, Ozil got a chance to play for Werder Bremen, a professional club. Here he was able to take a mediocre team all the way to the UEFA cup final (now referred to as the Europa League Final). Mesut Ozil was easily the star on the team while only being nineteen years old. His impeccable ability to create goal-scoring opportunities landed him a spot on the competitive German National Team. 

Then the 2010 World Cup globalized his talent, demonstrating his extraordinary vision to some of the biggest clubs in the world. Real Madrid, the most valuable club of all time, took an interest and signed Ozil. Naturally, Ozil thrived on the team and led Madrid’s midfield and established himself a key playmaker. 

Three years later in 2013, Ozil left Madrid and moved on to Arsenal FC. There, he was immediately recognized as the star player and became a fan favorite. Ozil was phenomenal during his time in Arsenal and was on the steady track to become one of the greatest soccer masterminds of all time. However the 2018–2019 season revealed Mesut Ozil’s Achilles heel: his back. 

Ozil’s back injury cannot be traced to one event but rather consistent pain over time during the season. His back injuries consisted of muscle strains with his spine, resulting in inflammation and spasms. These injuries occurred due to excessive rigorous activities and random movement during the game such as twists or turns. Although it seemed pretty standard at first, these back issues were constantly recurring. 

These back problems drastically impacted his physical performance. Ozil faced a noticeable change in his mobility, unable to use his explosive turns and dribbles that made him so unique. Without his signature moves, Mesut Ozil was not himself. Additionally, he had signs of quicker fatigue and decreased energy levels. As a result, Ozil would miss training and often miss match day. In short, these back spasms completely changed the trajectory of his career. 

Road to Recovery 

Ozil, being this generational talent, was not ready to give up. At first, he did not take it that seriously since it seemed like a simple task, however it was not that easy. Soon after he decided to truly focus on the recovery process. It began with standard physical therapy where professions guided him to improve flexibility and ease pain. Soon after, he needed additional medical resources such as anti-inflammatory medications and corticosteroid injections to handle the pain. However since it was a chronic illness, being back to his full form was essentially unattainable. Ozil had to accept this and implemented rest and recovery into his routine.  

Mental Struggle

Although obvious, many people do not understand the physiological and mental issues that come with these injuries. Ozil had to face constant pressure and anxiety to perform at the level he was before. Despite knowing his injuries, the media and fans still denounced his performances and essentially gave up on him. Additionally, the frustration of his physical limits played a role in his mind. Still a soccer genius, however lacked the physical qualities needed to be elite. Ozil felt like a shell of himself and needed to find a way out. 

Eventually in 2021, Ozil took a transfer to Fenerbahçe FC, a Turkish Club. This change offered him a fresh new environment and a new beginning. He went through counseling for his mental issues and found ways to take better care of himself. Ozil adapted to his back, evolving his game by focusing on technical ability instead of explosive athleticism, reducing strain on his back. In this manner, Ozil continued to play the game he loved without excessive backlash he received before. 

Ozil’s Legacy

Ozil is still considered one of the greatest playmakers in the modern era at his peak. During his prime, he was truly a magician on the field. Unfortunately, fate took him with chronic back strains. Although unable to return back to his prime, Ozil found a way to adapt his game where he was still able to provide a crucial role on the field without overworking his body. Athletes should all look at how Ozil was able to mentally overcome this injury and transform himself to inspire millions around him. 

Sources 

Goal, N/A. “Arsenal News: Mesut Ozil Suffered Back Injury in Training Says Unai Emery: Goal.Com Us.” Arsenal News: Mesut Ozil Suffered Back Injury in Training Says Unai Emery | Goal.Com US, Goal.com, 19 Sept. 2023, www.goal.com/en-us/news/ozil-missed-arsenal-win-at-fulham-due-to-back-injury-confirms-emery/188y8gtamh7e81d2gt8fbyrg7a.   

N/A. “Mesut Özil: ‘Pressure Is Nothing That Scares Me ... I Don’t Feel Pressure.’” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 6 Dec. 2013, www.theguardian.com/football/2013/dec/06/mesut-ozil-arsenal-germany-real-madrid . 

Oka, Daniel. “The Story of Mesut Özil.” Medium, Medium, 18 Jan. 2021, daniel-okunola6.medium.com/the-story-of-mesut-%C3%B6zil-f8d49a5b625d. 

Jones, Janko. “What Is Wrong with Mesut Ozil?” Gooner News, 2 Jan. 2019, goonernews.com/blog/what-is-wrong-with-mesut-ozil/.  

Marsden, Rory. “Mesut Ozil ‘sure’ He’ll Recover from Back Injury in Time for 2018 World Cup.” Bleacher Report, Bleacher Report, 7 May 2018, bleacherreport.com/articles/2774748-mesut-ozil-sure-hell-recover-from-back-injury-in-time-for-2018-world-cup.