Due to his creative ability and offensive prowess as a playmaker, Özil has been called "assist-king" in the media [REF].
His nicknames have included "der Rabe" (the Raven, or in Spanish, "El Cuervo") - playing on his smart and opportunistic style of play,[REF] and at Werder Bremen "der neue Diego" (the new Diego), in reference to Brazilian Diego, whose playmaker role he inherited,[REF] "German Messi"[REF] and "German Zidane."[REF]