Ex-Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira names the best player he’s ever seen in his career

Former Real Madrid star Sami Khedira has named his German compatriot Mesut Ozil as the best player he's ever seen. The 37-year-old was in conversation with Rio Ferdinand on his show FIVE, wherein Khedira was asked about Ozil as a player.

Both were part of Real Madrid for several years while also sharing the field in Germany's colors. The pair forged an excellent pairing in midfield and were part of Joachim Loew's squad that won the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Khedira recently appeared on Ferdinand's show for a segment called Legend Lounge, wherein the former Germany international spoke on a range of subjects. At one point, Ferdinand asked Khedira what kind of a player Ozil was, to which 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"

That is some high praise from Khedira, but if you look at the stats, his assessment of Ozil isn't far-fetched. Following his breakout years with Werder Bremen, he established himself among the best creators at Real Madrid.

In three years at the club, he struck 27 and assisted 81 goals, many of which were for Cristiano Ronaldo, who famously admitted to being "angry" upon Ozil's departure to Arsenal in 2013.

With the Premier League side, the 35-year-old continued his blazing run of form and was at the top of his game for the first five years before a steep decline led to his departure in 2020. Ozil retired from the German national team in 2018 as a protest against members of the federation for racism.

---

History will be kind to Mesut Ozil

In contrast to an acrimonious end to his playing career at club and country, Mesut Ozil will be remembered as one of the greatest playmakers of his generation whose talents knew no bounds.

Beyond all the stats, it was his ability on the field that set him apart from his peers. Whether it was making that pass out of nowhere that led to a match-winning chance, or escaping his markers with the ball like they were some training cone, Ozil was adept at everything he did.

Touted as the 'assist king' in the media during his prime years at Real Madrid, and then the initial years with Arsenal, the German was an absolute football genius with an unreal understanding of the game.