MESUT OZIL is one of Germany's most decorated players – but he has played his last international game and will not feature at the 2022 World Cup.

Coach Hansi Flick has plenty of new faces to choose from to fill the gap left by the Arsenal star, who will be watching from home as his country take on Spain in Qatar this week.

Why is Mesut Ozil not playing at the World Cup?

The midfielder decided to retire from international football following Germany's embarrassing showing at the World Cup in Russia in 2018.

The then-reigning world champs failed to escape from their group for the first time since 1938.

Ozil released an emotional three-part explanation of his decision, accusing the German FA of racism in the aftermath of a picture with Turkey president Recep Erdogan before the World Cup.

Of Turkish decent, Ozil's snap with Turkey's leader led to abuse from German fans – while the country's governing body allegedly "belittled" and "patronised" their star before publicly blaming him for their poor performance in Russia.

Ozil made 92 appearances for Germany, which includes a World Cup winners medal – and won their Player of the Year award a record five times in six years.

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