Mesut Ozil Targets Ballon d'Or, Arsenal Titles, Rio 2016 Olympics and More

Arsenal maestro Mesut Ozil isn't selling himself short in pursuit of both individual and team achievements next year after confessing his intention to win the Ballon d'Or and feature at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The Germany international spoke to German newspaper Bild earlier this week and stated his excitement at the prospect of clinching Olympic gold in Brazil, which was the scene of last year's World Cup triumph, per ESPN's Stephan Uersfeld:

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It would be wicked. The coach [Horst Hrubesch] decides whether I'll receive a call up. Should he ask me, I would not say no. I would love to take part in the Olympic Games in Rio and chase the medals with our lads. The Olympic Games would certainly be a real career highlight. As a World Cup winner I want to become a European champion in France next year. That's our big goal.

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The sky seems like the limit for Germany following the World Cup win in Rio, and Ozil would be permitted to represent Germany's under-23 side at the Olympics as one of their three overage players.

The attacking midfielder didn't stop there, though, adding that a more vicious streak in front of goal could give him the means necessary to win the Ballon d'Or in future:

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I have to become more dangerous in front of the goal. I was injured for long spells last season, and scored only five in 32 competitive games. I want to improve this. To achieve it, I have to be a bit more egotistical. You need to win major titles with both club and country. In 2016, the chances are there to do just that. We've got a great team at Arsenal, which can win titles.

After two FA Cup victories in the past two years, we want to be in the mix for the Premier League title. We also need to beat the knockout stages curse in Champions League. The group stage clashes with Bayern Munich are a real benchmark test. And I want to win the European Championships with Germany.

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Although the Ballon d'Or is a celebration of individual merit, it's also true that winning titles can help a player's claim for recognition, with their team-mates' contributions often just as important.

Arsenal's failure to sign any senior outfield players this summer could come back to bite Ozil's chances of claiming any major awards in north London, despite his notions to the contrary.

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Since moving to the Emirates Stadium from Real Madrid in 2013, Ozil has boosted his reputation as a playmaker who can inspire one minute, but also holds a less likeable penchant for going astray in matches.

The BBC's John Bennett attests to this hit-and-miss nature of his play, but insists Ozil's genius outweighs any level of madness:

The German is also correct in stating he needs to add more to his attack if he's to challenge the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for the Ballon d'Or, with those two dominating the award in recent years.

The seven goals Ozil scored during his maiden 2013-14 term at Arsenal remains the highest he's managed in any season at the Emirates, but Arsenal Fan TV points to his creation as being his best asset:

Ozil is yet to place among the top 10 of the Ballon d'Or, with his 11th-place ranking in 2011 his best to date, while he failed to even make the 23-man shortlist in last year's reckoning.

That setback hasn't deterred the 26-year-old in the slightest, however, as Ozil's targets sit as lofty as ever and gold is the only colour he sees in his future for club and country.