Former Germany, Real Madrid and Arsenal star Mesut Ozil, who retired in 2023, was elected on February 23, 2025, to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) party of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the party announced.
(Photo by TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / HO / TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE" - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS (Photo by -/TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE/AFP via Getty Images)] In 2019, Ozil chose Conservative leader Erdogan as the best man at his wedding to Amine Gulse, a former Miss Turkey.
(Photo by KAYHAN OZER / TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL PRESS OFFICE / KAYHAN OZER" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS (Photo by KAYHAN OZER/TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE/AFP via Getty Images)] Tens of thousands gathered in a sports hall grand congress as Erdogan secured his ninth re-election as AKP's leader.
Ozil, who ended his club career with Istanbul Basaksehir, has been a longtime supporter of Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
A 2018 photo of Ozil and fellow German star Ilkay Gundogan alongside Erdogan triggered a political backlash in Germany.
