Arsenal and Germany international midfielder Mesut Ozil and his wife-to-be Amine Gulse will mark their wedding with a gesture to help children around the world despite being the best and important day of their lives.
The couple, who tie the knot on Friday, are paying for 1,000 children to have life-changing surgery.
Mesut is well adored even in Kenya after he awarded a boys team with full kits after a picture of a boy donning an Arsenal jersey inscribed his name went viral prompting is attention.
The star who has since fallen out with Germany national coach has chosen to forego receiving traditional gifts and asked guests to donate to a charity which funds operations for children in developing countries who suffer from burns, club feet and cleft lip and palate.
In 2014, the Arsenal midfielder, 30, donated his 2014 World Cup winnings an estimated £240,000 to pay for 23 Brazilian children to have surgery.
🙏🏼❤ #M1Öhttps://t.co/hG72JpFhxF pic.twitter.com/1M7BooiBC8
— Mesut Özil (@MesutOzil1088) June 6, 2019
“Many fans have asked me, my close relatives and friends about our wishes for tomorrow’s wedding,” the former Germany international wrote in a social media post.
“As a professional footballer I am in a fortunate and privileged position. However, I invite everyone who is willing and able to help to support a very special project close to both of our hearts.
“Amine and I will bear the expenses for surgeries of 1,000 children in need.”