Former Real Madrid and Arsenal maestro Mesut Ozil has called on Malaysia to prioritize long-term investment in youth academies and grassroots programs as the primary vehicle to elevate the nation’s footballing standards.

Speaking at the Malaysia-Turkiye Leadership Summit 2026 at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) on Monday, the 2014 World Cup winner emphasized that a world-class football ecosystem cannot be built overnight. According to Ozil, the secret lies in providing structured support and quality education to young talents from an early age.

Ozil, who earned 92 caps for Germany, believes that Malaysia possesses the potential to produce players capable of competing on the global stage, provided the infrastructure is there to support them.

“What’s important in football is making good investments in academies and young people, and supporting amateur and professional clubs,” Ozil stated. “I think if this is done as a country, then many Malaysian football players will be seen on the world stage.”

He further noted that strengthening academies would not only benefit the national team but also create a “positive ripple effect” on the quality and competitiveness of the local domestic leagues.

During the summit, which was attended by over 500 participants—including Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir—Ozil also shared insights on the mental aspect of the game.

When asked about handling the immense pressure of playing for the world’s biggest clubs, Ozil credited his success to unwavering self-belief and collective trust.

“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 shared.

He added that true leadership is defined by how one reacts to failure: “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 served as a strategic platform to foster ties between Malaysia and Turkiye, featuring prominent figures such as Deputy Economy Minister Datuk Mohd Shahar Abdullah and Polity Executive Chair Nurul Izzah Anwar.

The event was a joint effort between the Ministry of Higher Education, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Sycamore Foundation, highlighting a multi-ministerial approach to leadership and sports development.