“He is first class, very creative”

Barcelona icon Lionel Messi had once hailed former Real Madrid rival Mezut Ozil as the best player of his national team, Germany. Ozil played for Los Blancos between 2010 and 2013.

Lionel Messi and Mesut Ozil have faced each other in 22 games across club and country. The Argentine legend won 10 games and lost and drew six games each against Ozil.

The duo played against each other in 16 El Clasicos when Ozil was at Real Madrid and Messi at Barcelona. The retired midfielder was a part of Germany’s squad when they notably beat Messi’s Argentina 1-0 in extra-time in the final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Ozil has 23 goals in 92 caps for Germany.

In a 2013 interview with the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, Lionel Messi had heaped praise on Mesut Ozil. The two were playing for rival teams Barcelona and Real Madrid at that time.

“Ozil is for me Germany’s best player, he is first class, 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 significant to Germany’s triumph in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, scoring and assisting once in the tournament.

His other significant titles include one LaLiga, one Copa del Rey, and one Supercopa de Espana with Los Blancos and four FA Cup titles with Arsenal.

When former Real Madrid star Mesut Ozil chose between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi

In a January 2021 Q&A session on X (formerly Twitter), a user asked Mesut Ozil the age-old question of choosing between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. While Ozil has never played alongside Messi, he shared the pitch with Ronaldo for Los Blancos in 149 games, recording 39 joint-goal participations. He wrote (via Mirror):

“Messi has proven himself to be one of the best ever in Spain, but Ronaldo was always the best in every country he’s played in! 😉.”

Both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have cemented their position among the greatest to ever grace the beautiful sport. The duo’s rivalry reached its peak from 2009 to 2018 when they played for rival clubs Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively.

The two have won 13 Ballons d’Or together, with Messi boasting a record eight and Ronaldo five.