“Barcelona” icon Lionel Messi once rated Mezut Ozil, the former rival of “Real Madrid” as the best player of the German national team. He played for Ozil Whites Between 2010 and 2013.
Lionel Messi and Mesut Özil faced each other in 22 games for the club and the country. The Argentinian legend has won 10 games against Ozil, lost 6 games each and tied them.
The duo played against each other in 16 El Clasicos during Ozil's tenure Real Madrid and Messi in Barcelona. The retired midfielder was part of Germany's squad when they beat Messi's Argentina 1-0 in extra time in the 2014 FIFA World Cup final. Özil scored 23 goals in 92 games played in the German national team.
In a 2013 interview with a Dutch newspaper The Telegraph, Lionel Messi Masud praised Ozil. The two played for rival teams Barcelona and Real Madrid at the time.
“Ozil is the best player in Germany for me, he's first class, he's very creative,” the Argentine said via Bleacher Report.
Mesut Ozil retired from professional football in March 2023. He is often considered among the best players of both Real Madrid (2010-2013) and Arsenal (2013-2021). He was also instrumental in Germany's victory at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, scoring and assisting once in the tournament.
His other notable titles include one LaLiga, one Copa del Rey and one Supercopa de Espana. Whites and four FA Cup titles with Arsenal.
Former Real Madrid star Mesut Ozil choosing between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi
In a January 2021 question-and-answer session on X (formerly Twitter), a user asked Mesut Ozil the age-old question of choosing between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Although Ozil never played with Messi, he shared the field with Ronaldo Whites In 149 games, he recorded 39 shared goals. He wrote (via the Mirror):
“Messi has proven to be one of the best in Spain, but Ronaldo has always been the best in all the countries he's played in! 😉.”
Both of them Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have cemented their positions among the greatest to grace the beautiful sport. The duo's rivalry peaked between 2009 and 2018 when they played for rival clubs Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively.
Together, the two have won 13 Ballon d'Ors, with Messi boasting a record eight and Ronaldo five.
Edited by Ritwik Kumar