MESUT ÖZIL

Visiting FRIENDS

2026

Docu-Series in 3 Episodes (2 x 45 Mins; 1 x 60 Mins)

A series by Florian Opitz

A Flare Film production - in association with Undone - in co-production with ZDF - with support from Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg.

Streaming Premiere Germany: March 20th 2026.

TV-Premiere Germany: March 31st 2026,
8.15h, ZDF (Episode 1),
0.15h, ZDF (Episode 2 und 3)

SYNOPSIS

Exceptional soccer player Mesut Özil was once considered a role model for successful integration. But when he had his picture taken with Turkish President Recep Erdoğan, Germany turned against him. The three-part documentary series “Mesut Özil – Visiting Friends” reconstructs his rise and fall. It paints a comprehensive and ambivalent picture of those dramatic weeks that led to Özil's resignation from the national soccer team – and to his alienation from Germany.

The documentary series will be available on the ZDF streaming portal from Friday, March 20, 2026, and will be broadcast on linear ZDF on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at 8:15 p.m.

TEAM

• Writer & Director: Florian Opitz

• Editors: Jamin Benazzouz, Marielle Pohlmann 

• Camera: Andy Lehmann, Thomas Eirich-Schneider, Jörg Adams

• Music: Von Spar

• Line Producer: Martina Hedwig

• Production Manager: Elena Winterer

• Producers: Eva Kemme, Konstanze Speidel

• Commissioning Editors ZDF: Fabian Farwick, Lisa Reisch, Vanessa Olivier