Mesut Özil vs Per Mertesacker: Stats Compared
Attacking Midfielder, Germany (born 1988, retired 2023) · Centre-Back, Germany (born 1984, retired 2018)
Comparing Mesut Özil with Per Mertesacker means weighing two very different kinds of greatness. Position shapes everything in football, and these two fulfilled very different briefs. Across his senior career Mesut Özil notched 114 goals in 645 appearances (0.18 per game), while Per Mertesacker recorded 15 in 550 (0.03 per game). Modern assist data only covers part of their careers, so creativity is hard to compare cleanly — Mesut Özil is listed at 0 and Per Mertesacker at 5 where figures survive. The honours ledger favours Mesut Özil with 8 major trophies (1× FIFA World Cup (2014)) against Per Mertesacker's 4 (1× FIFA World Cup (2014)). The attacking midfielder duties of Mesut Özil leaned silky; the centre-back responsibilities of Per Mertesacker leaned resolute. Their routes to the top were distinct: Mesut Özil built his reputation across Schalke, Werder Bremen, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Fenerbahçe, peaking around 2012, while Per Mertesacker reached his defining level around 2014 after spells with Hannover 96, Werder Bremen, Arsenal. Picking between them says as much about the picker as the players.
175 words · comparison angle: role
Player profiles
Mesut Özil is a German former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. Known for his ball control, technical skills, creativity, passing skills, and vision, he is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders of his generation. Born and raised in Gelsenkirchen, Özil began his senior club career playing for hometown club Schalke 04, before signing with Werder Bremen in 2008, aged 19.
“A left-footed chance creator whose weight of pass and scanning made assists look effortless.”
A towering, calm German centre-back nicknamed 'BFG' by Arsenal fans, Mertesacker started every match of Germany's triumphant 2014 World Cup campaign.
“A commanding, positionally intelligent centre-back whose reading of the game compensated for a lack of raw pace.”
Head-to-head stats
Career goals by season
Representative career seasons — goals per season for each player across their documented clubs.
Attribute radar
Attribute ratings are peak-era, 0–100. Different positions naturally skew the profile.
Attribute comparison
Trophy breakdown
- 1× FIFA World Cup (2014)
- 1× FIFA World Cup (2014)
- 3× FA Cup (2014, 2015, 2017)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 2004 Established himself at Schalke
- 2008 Reached his defining peak
- 2012 Delivered a landmark season
- 2023 Retired from professional football
- 2001 Professional debut for Hannover 96
- 2014 Won FIFA World Cup with Arsenal
- 2014 Won FA Cup with Arsenal
- 2014 Reached the peak of his powers at Arsenal
- 2018 Retired after a final spell at Arsenal
- Finished his career with 15 goals in 550 appearances and 4 major honours. Finished his career with 15 goals in 550 appearances and 4 major honours.
The verdict
The numbers give Mesut Özil the lead — a decisive margin, courtesy of a sharper goalscoring record.
Mesut Özil edges it (a decisive margin)
