Germany’s dismissal from the World Cup came as a shock to many, but one of its players received heavier scrutiny for off-the-field actions.
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Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil appeared in two of the three group stage matches for the Germans in Russia, however, his play was overshadowed by his meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan prior to the start of the tournament.
The meeting between the two caused several German media outlets to criticize Ozil due to the heated relations between the two European nations.
It was for this reason that it appears Ozil has decided to retire from the German national team, which he announced via social media.
Additionally, Ozil says his brand was affected as well, with various sponsors pulling their support due to the meeting with Erdogan.
The 29-year-old is of Turkish and German descent, which would have made him eligible to represent either country.
Ozil took to Twitter on Sunday to discuss how the ordeal has affected how the media and sponsorship has affected him over the last month.
II / III pic.twitter.com/Jwqv76jkmd
— Mesut Özil (@M10) July 22, 2018
