ISTANBUL: Former Germany, Real Madrid, and Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil, who retired in 2023, has been elected to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the party announced on Sunday.
The 2014 World Cup winner, born in Germany, was appointed to the AKP’s central council during a congress in Ankara, where Erdogan secured his ninth re-election as leader of the conservative party that has governed Turkey since 2002.
Ozil, who ended his club career in Istanbul, has been a longtime supporter of Erdogan, even selecting him as the best man at his 2019 wedding to former Miss Turkey, Amine Gülse.
A past photo of Ozil, Erdogan, and former Germany teammate Ilkay Gündogan sparked controversy, with Berlin criticizing Erdogan’s authoritarian tendencies, while Ozil faced backlash from Germany’s far right.
Once seen as a symbol of multicultural Germany, Ozil later cut ties with the German national team, accusing the German Football Association of racism.
Read also: Champions Trophy: South Africa bat first against Afghanistan
