Last year, professional Muslim footballer Mesut Özil >announced his retirement from international football due to "racism and disrespect" in Germany over his Turkish roots.

"Is it because I am Turkish? Is it because I'm a Muslim? I think here lays an important issue... The treatment I have received from the [German Football Association] makes me no longer want to wear the German national team shirt," Özil wrote in a statement at the time.

The footballer has not shied away from embracing his Muslim faith multiple times in the past. Here's a look at nine of those times:

1. "Knock. And he'll open the door."

2. "Pray. Wait. Trust."

3. "Alhamdulillah"

4. "Honored and privileged to have this special piece of the Kiswah that covers the Kaaba in Mecca at my home in London"

5. "Eid Mubarak"

6. "Eid Mubarak" ... again

7. "Pray for Peace"

8. "Happy Ramadan"

9. "Mecca. Islam. Pray"