Mesut Ozil has proved he is a religious and large-hearted man, even at a youthful age of 25.
The Arsenal midfielder has shown a philanthropic side of him by donating £240,000 from his World Cup winning bonus with Germany, to help pay for 23 sick children’s surgery in Brazil.
Ozil revealed the generous gesture of using his World Cup winnings to defray for ailing kids was his personal way of appreciating the affable “hospitality” received from the people of Brazil during the four-week World Cup in South America.
“This is my personal thank you for the hospitality of the people of Brazil,” Ozil told reporters in Berlin.
The former Real Madrid playmaker originally paid for 11 kids before the tournament in Brazil started, but decided to up the tally to 23 in reference to the number of players that formed winners Germany’s squad.
Ozil’s generosity is part of the ‘BigShoe project’, started at the 2006 World Cup in Germany when money was collected for a child that required surgery, and the project has escalated from there.
Their goal is to help helpless children, and the charity were part of the 2010 World Cup in Africa, and the tradition carried to 2014.
“Prior to the World Cup, I supported the surgery of 11 sick children. Since the victory in the World Cup is not only due to 11 players but to our whole team, I will now raise the number to 23,” Ozil added.
Each Germany player received £240,000 for beating Argentina 1-0 after 120 minutes in the final at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro to lift a record fourth World Cup title for the Die Mannschaft, courtesy of substitute, Mario Goetze’s 133th minute goal.