German Soccer Star Alara Şehitler Drops Surname from Jersey to Counter Misuse

The 18-year-old Bayern Munich player adopts a first-name-only jersey after her surname became a target for right-wing propaganda and ridicule.

Alara Şehitler, one of Germany's top young soccer talents, now plays with only her first name on her jersey to avoid misuse of her surname.
Her Turkish surname, meaning 'martyr,' was phonetically linked to 'Hitler,' leading to offensive jokes, propaganda, and harassment by right-wing extremists and media outlets.
Şehitler's request to use only her first name was supported by Bayern Munich, the German Football Association (DFB), and approved by UEFA in late 2024.
At 18, Şehitler has played for all German youth national teams, won a U17 European Championship, and debuted for the senior national team in November 2024.
The change marks a first in German professional soccer, as Şehitler focuses on her career while rejecting attempts to politicize her identity.