This archive report was first published on 26 December 2019.
German midfielder Mesut Ozil has been making waves with his kind gesture of paying for life-changing surgeries for underprivileged children from around the world. The 31-year-old Arsenal playmaker made the announcement in June 2019, when he wedded former Miss Turkey Amine Gulse, that he would cover the costs of 1,000 operations for children in need.
As of Christmas Eve, Ozil had already helped over 200 children undergo surgery, with 800 more to go. He took to Twitter to share heartwarming photos of the kids whose lives he has changed, saying, "219 operations are already done, but there’s still many more to come going forward."
Ozil's contribution is made through BigShoe, a network of sports stars and fans that help children around the world with medical surgeries. He began supporting the organisation five years ago after lifting the 2014 World Cup with Germany in Brazil.
With his massive weekly salary of £350,000, Ozil is making a significant impact on the lives of these children. His kind gesture is a testament to the power of philanthropy and the positive influence that sports stars can have on society.
