Inside Ozil life after retirement as he showcases a DRAMATIC body transformation

Former Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil called time on a glittering career a little over a year ago, opting to immediately hang up his boots part way through a disappointing Turkish Super League season.

The prolific creator had by that point found himself at Istanbul Basaksehir, having gone through a very public break-up with Arsenal, with whom he had enjoyed several stellar campaigns.

'I'm looking forward to everything that is in front of me with my beautiful wife, Amine, and my two beautiful daughters, Eda and Ela.' The World Cup winner said in a statement announcing his retirement. 'But you can be sure that you will hear from me from time to time on my social media channels.'

Ozil certainly has fulfilled that pledge in the 13 months that have followed, as fans have been treated to a jaw dropping body transformation, wholesome family snaps, political advocacy and a whole lot more.

Here, Mail Sport takes a look at what the assist king has been getting up to since he stepped away from the game.

There's only one place to start, presumably where Ozil now begins and finishes most of his days: the gym.

The midfielder would often be the leanest player on the pitch during his career but that frame has since made way for a much bulkier one.

In March, his personal coach, Alper Aksac, has shared a new photo showcasing the staggering progress that Ozil has made.

Aksac captioned the photo: 'Nothing better. For the best one ever,' with a weightlifting emoji.

The week prior, Cristiano Ronaldo shared his support for his former Real Madrid team-mate, after Ozil had posted a clip of him using a set of battle ropes before pushing a weighted sled up and down the length of a gym.

The 35-year-old, who played at Los Blancos with Ronaldo between 2010