Kuala lumpur: Former Arsenal and Real Madrid star Mesut Ozil has encouraged Malaysia to strengthen investment in youth academies and grassroots development to elevate its football standards. Ozil, who also played as a German international from 2009 to 2018, emphasized that building a robust football ecosystem begins with nurturing young talents through proper education and structured support across all levels of the game.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ozil stated, "What's important in football is making good investments in academies and young people, and supporting amateur and professional clubs," during the Malaysia-Turkiye Leadership Summit 2026 at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). He highlighted that a long-term commitment to youth development could result in more Malaysian players gaining international recognition. "I think if this is done as a country, then many Malaysian football players will be seen on the world stage," the German-born Ozil, son of Turkish immigrants, added.
Ozil also shared insights on handling pressure at the highest level, citing self-belief and trust in teammates as crucial, particularly in high-stakes matches. "On the field, I never felt pressure. I always believed in myself and my teammates. Even when we lost big games, we never gave up and always tried to improve," he said. He emphasized that true leadership is reflected in how individuals respond to setbacks, stating, "If everything is going well, it is easy. But when something goes wrong, you have to learn from your mistakes and come back stronger."
The summit, attended by more than 500 participants, also saw the presence of Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and the president of the Council of Higher Education Trkiye, Professor Dr Erol -zvar. A special session featured prominent figures such as Deputy Economy Minister Datuk Mohd Shahar Abdullah and Polity Executive Chair Nurul Izzah Anwar. This strategic initiative was a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Higher Education, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Sycamore Foundation.