Former Real Madrid star Sami Khedira has hailed his fellow German, Mesut Ozil, as the best player he’s ever seen.
During an appearance on Rio Ferdinand’s show FIVE, the 37-year-old Khedira praised Ozil’s skills and impact on the field.
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Khedira and Ozil played together at Real Madrid for several years and were also key members of the German national team.
Their partnership in midfield was instrumental in Germany’s triumph at the 2014 FIFA World Cup under Joachim Loew.
Khedira’s comments came during a segment called Legend Lounge, where he discussed various topics with Ferdinand.
At one point, Ferdinand asked Khedira what kind of a player Ozil was, and he responded: “For me, personal wise [he] was the best player I’ve ever seen..technical wise and his vision, like, you know, his first touch, his movement between the lines and to understand the game how to give passes to the strikers…so the best I’ve ever seen”
Khedira’s commendation is quite significant, yet Ozil’s record supports such an accolade.
After his impressive stint with Werder Bremen, Ozil rose to prominence as one of the elite playmakers during his tenure at Real Madrid.
In his three-year spell with the club, he scored 27 goals and provided 81 assists, many for Cristiano Ronaldo, who openly expressed his displeasure when Ozil moved to Arsenal in 2013.
At Arsenal, the 35-year-old maintained his exceptional form for the first five years before experiencing a sharp decline, leading to his exit in 2020.
Ozil’s retirement from international football in 2018 was marked by controversy, as he cited racism within the federation as his reason for stepping down.
Despite the tumultuous conclusion to his club and international career, Ozil’s legacy as one of the most gifted playmakers of his era remains intact.
His extraordinary abilities on the pitch truly distinguished him from others.
Ozil had a knack for delivering unexpected passes that created game-winning opportunities or effortlessly evading defenders as if they were mere training cones.
During his peak at Real Madrid and in his early years at Arsenal, he was celebrated as the ‘assist king’ and revered for his exceptional football intellect and game comprehension.
