Dubbed as ‘Little Cristiano Ronaldo’, Why Did Mesut Ozil Retire Despite a Jacked Up Physique at 35?

Nothing is more painful than seeing our favorite player retire from the sport we love. Mesut Ozil hanging up his boots was no exception for the beautiful game, as he lit up the pitch with his mind-boggling skills. But despite having a bulked-up body at 35, what made the former German international, also nicknamed ‘Little Cristiano Ronaldo,’ permanently take a break from soccer?

Even though his remarkable body transformation came a year after he announced his retirement, Ozil had everything to play beyond 34. However, injuries marred his time, forcing him to consider this heartbreaking decision. On March 23, 2023, when he announced the news on X, the midfielder mentioned, “I’ve had the privilege to be a professional football player for almost 17 years now and I feel incredibly thankful for the opportunity. But in recent weeks and months, having also suffered some injuries, its become more and more clear that its time to leave the big stage of football.” 

These words from his lengthy retirement message make it obvious why he decided to permanently bid farewell to soccer. Notably, Ozil’s journey began by playing for over 4 different youth clubs in Germany, until he was snapped up by Schalke 04. A couple of years later, he was signed by Werder Bremen in 2008, where again after spending two seasons, he left for Real Madrid. 

But a call from Arsene Wenger came in 2013 as he left Spain for Arsenal. After spending over 8 years, he fell out of favor at the Emirates and mutually ended his contract, joining Fenerbahce, before he moved to Istanbul Basaksehir. Yet, injuries kept him sidelined for the majority of the time. Fast forwarding today, the post-retirement is suiting Ozil quite well. In fact, he is trying to emulate Cristiano Ronaldo. 

Why Mesut Ozil is called ‘little’ Cristiano Ronaldo? 

Just months after retirement, Mesut Ozil again shook up the internet after posting his remarkable physical transformation. While it sparked discussions within the soccer community, his former German teammate, Mario Gomez, offered a contrasting viewpoint. Speaking on the Phrasenmaher podcast, while acknowledging Ozil’s dedication as ‘admirable,’ he questioned the motive behind the former Arsenal midfielder’s pursuit of such a muscular physique, a path that leads to ‘nothing good.’ The bluntness didn’t end here as Gomez said, “It looks a bit crass and wouldn’t be my thing.” 

The former striker elaborated that after years of receiving praise and adulation throughout their careers, players naturally seek fulfillment post-retirement. For Ozil, this manifested in his commitment to the gym. Mesut found this in the form of a gym. “He [Ozil] also played with Ronaldo and maybe thinks: ‘Now I have time to become a little Cristiano’.” Interestingly, the former Arsenal superstar had impressed Ronaldo with his physique, as CR7 commented “Bro not bad,” alongside a winking emoji, on the social media post. While it’s sad that he retired, it led him to get the perfect transformation.