Editing Michael Ballack

{{short description|German footballer (born 1976)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Michael Ballack
| image = 10. Tag der Legenden 2014 69.jpg
| caption = Ballack in 2014
| full_name = Michael Ballack<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2006/PDF/FWC_2006_SquadLists.pdf |title=2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players: Germany |publisher=FIFA |page=12 |date=21 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190610174527/https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2006/PDF/FWC_2006_SquadLists.pdf |archive-date=10 June 2019}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1976|9|26|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Görlitz]], East Germany
| height = 1.88 m<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chelseafc.com/page/PlayerProfileDetail/0,,10268~27923,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126093236/http://www.chelseafc.com/page/PlayerProfileDetail/0,,10268~27923,00.html |archive-date=2010-11-26  | title = Ballack - Chelseafc.com | access-date = 31 March 2022 }}</ref>
| position = [[Midfielder]]
| currentclub = 
| youthyears1 = 1983–1988
| youthclubs1 = BSG Motor "Fritz Heckert" Karl-Marx-Stadt
| youthyears2 = 1988–1995
| youthclubs2 = [[Chemnitzer FC]]
| years1 = 1995–1997
| clubs1 = [[Chemnitzer FC II]]
| caps1 = 18
| goals1 = 5
| years2 = 1995–1997
| clubs2 = [[Chemnitzer FC]]
| caps2 = 49
| goals2 = 10
| years3 = 1997–1998
| clubs3 = [[1. FC Kaiserslautern II]]
| caps3 = 17
| goals3 = 8
| years4 = 1997–1999
| clubs4 = [[1. FC Kaiserslautern]]
| caps4 = 46
| goals4 = 4
| years5 = 1999–2002
| clubs5 = [[Bayer 04 Leverkusen|Bayer Leverkusen]]
| caps5 = 79
| goals5 = 27
| years6 = 2002–2006
| clubs6 = [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]]
| caps6 = 107
| goals6 = 44
| years7 = 2006–2010
| clubs7 = [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]]
| caps7 = 105
| goals7 = 17
| years8 = 2010–2012
| clubs8 = [[Bayer 04 Leverkusen|Bayer Leverkusen]]
| caps8 = 35
| goals8 = 2
| totalcaps = 456
| totalgoals = 117
| nationalyears1 = 1996–1998
| nationalteam1 = [[Germany national under-21 football team|Germany U21]]
| nationalcaps1 = 19
| nationalgoals1 = 7
| nationalyears2 = 1999–2010
| nationalteam2 = [[Germany national football team|Germany]]
| nationalcaps2 = 98
| nationalgoals2 = 42
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's [[Association football|football]]}}{{MedalCountry|{{fb|Germany}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIFA World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|RU|[[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002 Korea/Japan]]|}}
{{Medal|3rd|[[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006 Germany]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[UEFA European Championship]]}}
{{Medal|RU|[[UEFA Euro 2008|2008 Austria–Switzerland]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIFA Confederations Cup]]}}
{{Medal|3rd|[[2005 FIFA Confederations Cup|2005 Germany]]|}}
}}
'''Michael Ballack''' ({{IPA|de|ˈmɪçaːʔeːl ˈbalak}}; born 26 September 1976) is a German former professional [[Association football|footballer]]. He was selected by [[Pelé]] as one of [[FIFA 100|FIFA's 100 Greatest Living Players]], and as the [[UEFA Champions League Best Midfielder|UEFA Club Midfielder of the Year]] in 2002. He won the [[German Footballer of the Year]] award three times – in 2002, 2003 and 2005. Ballack was known for his passing range, powerful shot, physical strength and commanding presence in [[Midfielder|midfield]].<ref name="Ballack retires">{{cite web|url=http://in.mobile.reuters.com/article/idINDEE89106G20121002?irpc=932|title=Former Germany captain Ballack retires at 36|website=in.mobile.reuters.com|publisher=Reuters|first=Karolos|last=Grohmann|date=2 October 2012|access-date=17 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/12641/michael-ballack?cc=5901 |title=Player Profile |work=[[ESPN FC|ESPN Soccernet]] |access-date=9 April 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120718222606/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/12641/michael-ballack?cc=5901 |archive-date=18 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Ballack began his career as a youth at enterprise sports community BSG Motor "Fritz Heckert" Karl-Marx-Stadt in 1983. He then joined the youth department of [[Football club (East Germany)|football club]] [[Chemnitzer FC|FC Karl-Marx-Stadt]].<ref name="club and country stats">{{cite web|url=http://www.fussballdaten.de/spieler/ballackmichael |title=Michael Ballack |work=[[Fussballdaten.de]] |access-date=9 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100216115834/http://www.fussballdaten.de/spieler/ballackmichael |archive-date=16 February 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Ballack made his debut for [[Germany national under-21 football team|Germany's under-21 side]] on 26 March 1996. Although the team were relegated in his first season, his performances in the [[Regionalliga]] the following season led to a transfer to 1. FC Kaiserslautern in 1997. He won the [[Bundesliga]] in his first season at the club, his first major honour. He became a first team regular in [[1998–99 Bundesliga|1998–99 season]] and also earned his first senior national cap for Germany. He moved to [[Bayer 04 Leverkusen|Bayer Leverkusen]] for €4.1&nbsp;million in 1999. The [[2001–02 Bayer 04 Leverkusen season|2001–02 season]] saw him win a slew of runners-up medals: Bayer Leverkusen [[The Treble#Near trebles|finished second]] in the Bundesliga, [[DFB-Pokal]], [[UEFA Champions League]] and Germany lost to [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] in the [[2002 FIFA World Cup Final|2002 World Cup Final]].

A €12.9&nbsp;million move to [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]] led to further honours: the team won the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal [[Double (association football)|double]] in 2003, 2005 and 2006. Ballack had become a prolific goalscorer from midfield, scoring 58 goals for Bayern between 2002 and 2006. He joined [[Premier League]] club [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] in mid-2006 and won English honours in his first season at the club. Injury ruled him out of much of 2007, but he returned the following season to help Chelsea reach their first ever [[2008 UEFA Champions League Final|Champions League final]]. He also went on to win the [[2008–09 FA Cup|FA Cup]] again in 2009 and then once more as part of a [[2009–10 Premier League|league]] and [[2009–10 FA Cup|cup]] double in 2010.

Internationally, Ballack has played in the [[UEFA European Football Championship]] in [[UEFA Euro 2000|2000]], [[UEFA Euro 2004|2004]] and [[UEFA Euro 2008|2008]], and the [[FIFA World Cup]] in [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002]] and [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006]]. [[Jürgen Klinsmann]] appointed him captain of the national team in 2004. Ballack scored consecutive game-winning goals in the quarter-final and semi-final to help his country to the [[2002 FIFA World Cup Final|2002 World Cup final]] and led his team to the semi-finals of the 2006 World Cup and the [[UEFA Euro 2008 Final|Euro 2008 final]]. He is among the top goal scorers in the history of the Germany national team. 

==Early life==
Ballack was born on 26 September 1976 in [[Görlitz]],<ref name=nearlyman>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/jun/05/michael-ballack-nearly-man-genius |title=Michael Ballack: a nearly man or an undisputed midfield genius? |date=5 June 2013 |access-date=6 June 2013 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100216115834/http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2013/jun/05/michael-ballack-nearly-man-genius |archive-date=16 February 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> a town in [[Bezirk Dresden]], [[East Germany]] (now [[Saxony]], Germany). He is the only child of Stephan Ballack, an engineer, and his wife Karin, a secretary. The family moved to [[Chemnitz]] (then called Karl-Marx-Stadt) when Ballack was very young and it was there that he started to play football. He first began playing football for sports community.

== Club career ==

=== Chemnitzer FC ===
Ballack's parents sent him to train with sports community BSG Motor "Fritz Heckert" Karl-Marx-Stadt at the age of seven. Ballack was praised by coach Steffen Hänisch. Hänisch was particularly impressed  by the well-developed technique for Ballack's age and his ability to shoot with both feet. Ballack was then allowed to attend the elite Children and Youth Sports School (KSJ) "Emil Wallner" in Karl-Marx-Stadt.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=5 August 2021 |title=Michael Ballack privat: Ist der DFB-Star nach der Trennung wieder zu haben? |url=https://www.news.de/promis/855882571/michael-ballack-privat-getrennt-von-ex-freundin-natacha-tannous-dfb-star-mit-ex-frau-simone-mecky-ballack-soehne-louis-emilio-jordi/1/ |work=news.de |language=de |location=[[Leipzig]] |publisher=MM New Media GmbH |access-date=13 December 2021 }}</ref> He then joined the larger and more promoted football club FC Karl-Marx-Stadt (renamed [[Chemnitzer FC]] in 1990) in 1988. The father of Ballack had played second-division football himself in Germany.

In 1995, Ballack earned his first professional contract, thanks to his performances in the role of central midfielder. He was dubbed the "Little Kaiser", in reference to [[Franz Beckenbauer]], who was nicknamed "''Der Kaiser''". His professional debut came on 4 August 1995, on the first day of the new [[2. Bundesliga]] season. Chemnitz lost the game 2–1, against [[Lokomotive Leipzig|VfB Leipzig]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fussballdaten.de/zweiteliga/1996/1/chemnitz-leipzig |title=Chemnitzer FC – VfB Leipzig |access-date=4 July 2011 |work=Fussballdaten.de |language=de |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100216115834/http://www.fussballdaten.de/zweiteliga/1996/1/chemnitz-leipzig |archive-date=16 February 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> At the end of the season, during which Ballack made 15 appearances, Chemnitz were relegated to the multi-tiered, regional [[Regionalliga Nordost|third division]].<ref name="club and country stats"/> The following season, Ballack became a regular first-team player as Chemnitz missed out on an immediate return to the Bundesliga. He did not miss a game and scored ten goals for the "Sky Blues". It was not enough for Chemnitz to be promoted, but in the summer of 1997, coach [[Otto Rehhagel]] of just-promoted [[1. FC Kaiserslautern]] signed Ballack at their return to top flight football.<ref name=nearlyman/>

=== 1. FC Kaiserslautern ===
It was during the seventh match of the [[1997–98 Bundesliga|1997–98 Bundesliga season]], away to [[Karlsruher SC|Karlsruhe]], that Rehhagel decided to give Ballack his first Bundesliga appearance, substituting him onto the field for the final five minutes of the encounter.<ref>{{cite web|work=Fussballdaten.de |access-date=4 July 2011 |language=de |url=http://www.fussballdaten.de/bundesliga/1998/7/karlsruhe-klautern |title=Karlsruher SC – 1. FC Kaiserslautern |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100216115834/http://www.fussballdaten.de/bundesliga/1998/7/karlsruhe-klautern |archive-date=16 February 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 28 March 1998, Ballack made his first-team debut-start against [[Bayer 04 Leverkusen|Bayer Leverkusen]].<ref>{{cite web|work=Fussballdaten.de |access-date=4 July 2011 |url=http://www.fussballdaten.de/bundesliga/1998/28/klautern-leverkusen |title=1. FC Kaiserslautern – Bayer Leverkusen |language=de |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100216115834/http://www.fussballdaten.de/zweiteliga/1996/1/chemnitz-leipzig |archive-date=16 February 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Ballack made 16 appearances for his new team during the season as the club became the first-ever newly promoted team to lift the [[List of German football champions|Bundesliga title]].<ref name=nearlyman/> In the [[1998–99 Bundesliga|following season]], Ballack became both a regular member of the team (he made 30 appearances, scoring 4 goals in the league) and one of the side's leading players. Kaiserslautern reached the quarter finals of the [[1998–99 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]], but were eliminated by [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]].<ref name=rsssf1>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/players/ballack-in-ec.html |title=Michael Ballack – Matches in European Cups |author=Marcel Haisma |date=15 January 2010 |access-date=4 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100216115834/http://rsssf.com/players/ballack-in-ec.html |archive-date=16 February 2010 |website=[[RSSSF]] |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 1 July 1999, Ballack moved to Bayer Leverkusen at age 22 for a transfer fee of €4.1&nbsp;million.

=== Bayer Leverkusen ===
It was at Bayer Leverkusen that Ballack made his breakthrough. Coaches [[Christoph Daum]] and [[Klaus Toppmöller]] granted him an attacking role in the midfield. Ballack was instrumental to the success of Leverkusen, scoring 27 goals in the league<ref name="club and country stats"/> and nine in Europe over the course of his three seasons at the [[BayArena]].

In 2000, Bayer Leverkusen needed only a draw against minnows [[SpVgg Unterhaching]] to win the Bundesliga title, but an own goal by Ballack helped send the team to a crushing 0–2 defeat,<ref>{{cite web|language=de |url=http://www.fussballdaten.de/bundesliga/2000/34/uhaching-leverkusen |title=SpVgg Unterhaching – Bayer Leverkusen |access-date=4 July 2011 |work=Fussballdaten.de |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100216115834/http://www.fussballdaten.de/bundesliga/2000/34/uhaching-leverkusen |archive-date=16 February 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> while Bayern Munich clinched the title with a 3–1 victory over [[SV Werder Bremen|Werder Bremen]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fussballdaten.de/bundesliga/2000/34/ |title=Der 34. Spieltag der Bundesliga 1999/2000 |access-date=4 July 2011 |language=de |work=Fussballdaten.de |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100216115834/http://www.fussballdaten.de/bundesliga/2000/34/ |archive-date=16 February 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[2001–02 Bundesliga|2001–02 season]] was a disappointing one for Bayer Leverkusen. In the Bundesliga, the team surrendered a five-point lead at the top of the table over the last three games of the season to finish second behind [[Borussia Dortmund]]; lost the [[2001–02 UEFA Champions League|UEFA Champions League]] [[2002 UEFA Champions League Final|final]] 2–1 to [[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]]; and lost the [[2001–02 DFB-Pokal|DFB-Pokal]] final 4–2 to [[FC Schalke 04|Schalke 04]]. These three runner-up finishes were dubbed a "Treble Horror": Bayer Leverkusen was dubbed "Bayer [[Neverkusen]]" in [[English language|English]], while the [[German language|German]] nickname became ''Vizekusen''.<ref name=nearlyman/> Ballack and Leverkusen teammates [[Bernd Schneider (footballer)|Bernd Schneider]], [[Carsten Ramelow]] and [[Oliver Neuville]] were also beaten finalists with Germany in the [[2002 FIFA World Cup]], although Ballack was suspended for the [[2002 FIFA World Cup Final|final itself]]. Ballack finished with 17 league goals and his performance over the season led to him being voted into the UEFA.com users' Team of 2002 as well as being named [[German Footballer of the Year]].

=== Bayern Munich ===
[[File:Ballack.jpg|thumb|150px|Ballack playing for Bayern Munich in April 2006]]
In spite of Real Madrid's interest, Ballack decided to sign with Bayern Munich in a €6&nbsp;million deal in 2002 after his impressive performances in the World Cup. In his first season with the club, Bayern won the [[2002–03 Bundesliga|Bundesliga]] with 75 points as well as the [[2002–03 DFB-Pokal|DFB-Pokal]], with Ballack scoring twice and defeating former club 1. FC Kaiserslautern in the latter's final.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://fcbayern.com/en/club/honours/dfb-german-cup/german-cup-winner-2003 |title=Der DFB-Pokal Sieg 2003 |publisher=fcbayern.com |access-date=10 August 2020}}</ref> In his [[2003–04 Bundesliga|second season]], however, Bayern lost both their Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal crowns to Werder Bremen.

In his third season with the Bavarians, Ballack enjoyed success in the [[2004–05 Bundesliga|2004–05 season]] as Bayern Munich completed another double. New coach [[Felix Magath]] stated he was the only automatic starter in their midfield.<ref>{{cite news|title=Balanced Ballack is the finished article |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |location=UK |access-date=14 March 2008 |date=7 March 2006 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml;jsessionid=IQHQLL3FDUNN5QFIQMGSFF4AVCBQWIV0?xml=/sport/2006/03/07/sfnbal07.xml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071225161711/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml%3Bjsessionid%3DIQHQLL3FDUNN5QFIQMGSFF4AVCBQWIV0?xml=%2Fsport%2F2006%2F03%2F07%2Fsfnbal07.xml |archive-date=25 December 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In four seasons at Bayern, Ballack won three Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal doubles, scoring 44 goals in 107 Bundesliga matches.<ref name="rsssf2">{{cite web|first=Matthias |last=Arnhold |url=https://www.rsssf.org/players/ballackdata.html |title=Michael Ballack – Matches and League Goals |access-date=9 May 2013 |date=20 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100216115834/http://rsssf.com/players/ballackdata.html |archive-date=16 February 2010 |website=[[RSSSF]] |url-status=live }}</ref> Between 1998 and 2005, Ballack scored 61 goals in total in the domestic league.<ref name="club and country stats"/>

Ballack's critics, however, noted his frequent "[[choke (sports)|choking]]" in important Champions League matches. This resulted in open public criticism from club general manager [[Uli Hoeneß]], communications director [[Karl-Heinz Rummenigge]] and club president [[Franz Beckenbauer]], all former Bayern players. Beckenbauer later went as far as to accuse Ballack of "saving his strength" for prospective employers after Ballack turned in an average performance in the [[2005–06 DFB-Pokal|2006 DFB-Pokal]] final against [[Eintracht Frankfurt]].<ref>{{cite web|date=29 April 2006 |access-date=12 May 2013 |url-status=dead |work=[[Sporting Life (British newspaper)|Sporting Life]] |title=Rummenigge: Ballack Deal Done |url=http://www.sportinglife.com/football/premiership/chelsea/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/06/04/29/SOCCER_Ballack.html&TEAMHD=chelsea |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930050346/http://www.sportinglife.com/football/premiership/chelsea/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer%2F06%2F04%2F29%2FSOCCER_Ballack.html&TEAMHD=chelsea |archive-date=30 September 2007 }}</ref>

=== Chelsea ===
Ballack agreed to join English [[Premier League]] club [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] on a [[Bosman ruling|free transfer]] on 15 May 2006.<ref>{{cite news|date=15 May 2006 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/4769763.stm |title=Chelsea announce Ballack capture |work=[[BBC Sport]] |access-date=15 May 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100216115834/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/4769763.stm |archive-date=16 February 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> During his last season with Bayern, there were rumours of interest from [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]], Real Madrid, [[Inter Milan|Internazionale]] and [[A.C. Milan|Milan]],<ref>{{cite news|date=16 November 2005 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/4442022.stm |title=Ballack to keep suitors waiting |work=BBC Sport |access-date=15 May 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100216115834/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/4442022.stm |archive-date=16 February 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> but Ballack instead chose to go to [[Stamford Bridge (stadium)|Stamford Bridge]]. Shortly after arriving at Chelsea, Ballack stated that he hoped to end his career at Chelsea.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/4978488/Michael-Ballack-intends-to-stay-at-Chelsea-for-rest-of-career.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/4978488/Michael-Ballack-intends-to-stay-at-Chelsea-for-rest-of-career.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Ballack intends to stay at Chelsea for rest of career|date=12 March 2009|access-date=4 July 2011|work=The Daily Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

====2006–07 season====
[[File:Michael ballack chelsea.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Ballack with Chelsea in 2008]]
Ballack's debut for Chelsea came on 31 July 2006, during a practice match at [[University of California, Los Angeles|UCLA]]'s intramural football pitch. Chelsea presented him to the media the following day where the club also gave him his favoured number 13 shirt, worn throughout his career. Upon doing so, [[William Gallas]], who previously wore the number 13 shirt for Chelsea, was given the number 3 shirt. This move created animosity between Gallas and the club as Gallas felt that he was underappreciated.<ref>{{cite news|date=3 August 2006 |access-date=28 November 2008 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/mourinho-gives-ballack-gallas-lucky-no-13-shirt-410302.html |title=Mourinho gives Ballack Gallas' lucky No 13 shirt |work=[[The Independent on Sunday]] |first=Chris |last=Hatherall |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100216115834/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/mourinho-gives-ballack-gallas-lucky-no-13-shirt-410302.html |archive-date=16 February 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Ballack made his competitive debut in the [[2006 FA Community Shield]], but went off injured in the first half.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/4780739.stm |title=Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=31 August 2006 |access-date=7 June 2023}}</ref> On 27 August 2006, Ballack made his [[2006–07 FA Premier League|Premier League]] debut for Chelsea against [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/5266318.stm |title=Blackburn 0-2 Chelsea |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=27 August 2006 |access-date=7 June 2023 | first = John | last = Sinnott}}</ref> On 12 September, he scored his first goal for the club on his [[2006–07 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] debut against Werder Bremen.<ref>{{cite news  |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/5329982.stm |title=Chelsea 2-0 Werder Bremen |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=12 September 2006 |access-date=7 June 2023 | first = Phil | last = McNulty}}</ref>

He received the first straight red card of his career in Chelsea's 1–0 win over [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] on 17 September 2006, after being judged to have stamped on [[Mohamed Sissoko]]'s leg.<ref>{{cite news|work=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/5353884.stm |title=Ballack sent off against Liverpool |date=17 September 2006 |access-date=4 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100216115834/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/5353884.stm |archive-date=16 February 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Ballack scored his first Premier League goal on 21 October 2006 against [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]] at Stamford Bridge with a header. His first [[FA Cup]] goal came in the 109th minute in the semi-final against Blackburn on 15 April 2007. This goal resulted in Chelsea progressing into the [[2006–07 FA Cup|FA Cup]] final. He scored eight goals in all competitions for the club in the [[2006–07 Chelsea F.C. season|2006–07 season]], including a free-kick against [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] at [[Goodison Park]], as well as a half-volley against [[FC Porto|Porto]] which sent Chelsea through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Throughout his first season at Chelsea, Ballack was criticised for his lethargic performances – for playing as though he had "a huge cigar in his mouth".<ref>{{cite news|first=Alan |last=Hansen |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/alanhansen/2351183/Time-for-Ballack-and-Shevchenko-to-deliver.html |title=Time for Ballack and Shevchenko to deliver |access-date=24 December 2009 |date=27 November 2006 |work=The Daily Telegraph |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100216115834/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/alanhansen/2351183/Time-for-Ballack-and-Shevchenko-to-deliver.html |archive-date=16 February 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On 29 April 2007, Chelsea released a statement on their official website, informing fans that Ballack had undergone ankle surgery in [[Munich]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chelseafc.com/news-article/article/1023456 |title=Statement on Michael Ballack |date=28 April 2007 |access-date=4 July 2011 |publisher=Chelsea F.C. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100721195910/http://www.chelseafc.com/news-article/article/1023456 |archive-date=21 July 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> As a result, Ballack did not play in the [[FA Cup Final 2007|FA Cup final]] against Manchester United, which Chelsea won 1–0 through [[Didier Drogba]]'s extra time goal. This was Ballack's second trophy this season, his first being the [[EFL Cup|League Cup]], the final of which he started.

====2007–08 season====
Despite persistent rumours in the summer 2007 transfer window,{{citation needed|date=July 2020}} Ballack denied that he wanted to leave{{citation needed|date=July 2020}} and no such move materialised. Chelsea left Ballack out of their Champions League squad for the [[2007–08 UEFA Champions League group stage|2007–08 group stage]] as they realised that his injury would prevent him from playing any useful part and preferred to select the fully fit [[Steve Sidwell]]. The German international had an ankle operation in the summer and Chelsea could not take the risk of him not regaining full fitness before the end of the group stage. Thus, Ballack could not play in the Champions League before the knockout stages began in February.<ref>{{cite news|access-date=14 March 2008 |date=4 September 2007 |work=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/6977063.stm |title=Blues omit Ballack from Euro list |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100721195910/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/6977063.stm |archive-date=21 July 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The club was only able to select 23 out of a possible 25 players for their Champions League squad due to the new UEFA regulations on "association-trained players" and "club-trained players". Due to this regulation, Chelsea were also unable to select young player [[Scott Sinclair]] and could only pick 23 players as their only "club-trained player" was [[John Terry]]. For this reason, it was deemed unwise to gamble on Ballack being fit at some point.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kenyon Makes Ballack Statement |publisher=Chelsea FC |url=http://www.chelseafc.com/page/NewsHomePage/0,,10268~1112631,00.html |date=5 September 2007 |access-date=13 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014173202/http://www.chelseafc.com/page/NewsHomePage/0%2C%2C10268~1112631%2C00.html |archive-date=14 October 2007 }}</ref>

Ballack made his return to the side in Chelsea's 2–0 [[2007–08 Football League Cup|League Cup]] win over Liverpool on 19 December 2007. Ballack tallied an assist late in the game to striker [[Andriy Shevchenko]]. On 26 December 2007, Ballack made his Premier League return in a thrilling game against [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] which ended 4–4. He came on for [[Frank Lampard]] in the 26th minute after the latter had picked up a thigh injury. In first-half stoppage time, he won a penalty after being brought down in the box by [[Zat Knight]], which Andriy Shevchenko converted. In the 88th minute, with the score tied at 3–3, Ballack stepped up to take a free-kick, which he buried into the bottom left corner of the goal, but the match ended in a 4–4 draw.

[[File:Michael Ballack.JPG|thumb|right|upright|Ballack in action against [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]] in December 2009]]
Ballack [[Captain (association football)|captained]] the Chelsea team in the absence of captain John Terry and vice-captain Frank Lampard in a 2–1 win over [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] on 29 December 2007. Ballack then played his 50th game in a Chelsea shirt in a 2–1 win against [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]] in which he scored the winning goal for Chelsea. He also scored the only goal that won the match for Chelsea against [[Reading F.C.|Reading]] to extend the blues' winning streak to a record of nine. And, on 5 March 2007, he scored again, this time against [[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]] in the Champions League round of 16 in a 3–0 win. He scored the winning goal in the 2–0 win in the second leg of the quarter-finals against [[Fenerbahçe S.K. (football)|Fenerbahçe]], a victory that secured Chelsea a place in the semi-finals.

Ballack continued to score vital goals and, on 26 April 2008, he scored a header and a penalty to give Chelsea a 2–1 win over Manchester United. He was named [[Man of The Match]] for his performance. It brought the two teams level in the race for the Premier League title only two matchdays before the end of the [[2007–08 Premier League|season]].

The season ended on a low note for Ballack as Chelsea finished runners-up in the League Cup, Premier League and Champions League. This completed another treble horror for Ballack and his club. On 29 June 2008, [[Germany national football team|Germany]], captained by Ballack, lost to [[Spain men's national football team|Spain]] 1–0 in the [[UEFA Euro 2008 Final|final]] of [[UEFA Euro 2008]]. This became the second season in Ballack's career after 2002 that he was runner-up for four major trophies.

====2008–09 season====
The [[2008–09 Chelsea F.C. season|2008–09 season]] started well for Ballack, as he set up [[Joe Cole]] to score the first goal in a 4–0 win over Portsmouth in the first game of the season. Ballack was injured shortly after missing the games against Manchester United, Liverpool and [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]. Ballack's return from injury has been a lift for Chelsea as he set up [[Deco]] to score a scissor kick in a 2–0 win against [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]]. Ballack's first goal of the '09 season came against [[Southend United F.C.|Southend United]] in their FA Cup replay, a match which Chelsea went on to win 4–1. Ballack's first Premier League goal of the [[2008–09 Premier League|2008–09 season]] came on 11 April 2009 in a match against Bolton, ending 4–3 for Chelsea. He came on as a second-half substitute as Chelsea won the [[2009 FA Cup Final|2009 FA Cup final]]. On 2 June 2009, Ballack signed a one-year contract extension with Chelsea.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Chelsea F.C |date=2 June 2009 |access-date=13 May 2013 |url=http://www.chelseafc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10268~1685169,00.html |title=Ballack deal agreed |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110916165418/http://www.chelseafc.com/page/LatestNews/0%2C%2C10268~1685169%2C00.html |archive-date=16 September 2011 }}</ref>

[[File:Michael Ballack on the ground FA Cup Final 2010 (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|Ballack on the ground with the ankle injury in the [[2010 FA Cup Final]] that eventually ruled him out of the [[2010 FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] after a tackle from [[Kevin-Prince Boateng|Boateng]] (23)]]

====2009–10 season====
In Chelsea's second game of the season, away at [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]], Ballack scored his first goal of the [[2009–10 Premier League|2009–10 campaign]] in their 3–1 win. Ballack also scored against [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]] in a 3–0 win. Ballack made his first [[2009–10 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] appearance for the season against Porto. On 20 September 2009, he scored his third league goal, against Tottenham. On 17 January 2010, he scored his fourth league goal and third assist in a 7–2 win against Sunderland. In Chelsea's fifth round [[2009–10 FA Cup|FA Cup]] tie against [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]], Ballack scored the goal which put ''the Blues'' back in front; Chelsea ultimately won 4–1.

Ballack was sent off in Chelsea's 4–2 defeat against [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] on 27 February 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=270045&cc=5739&league=ENG.1 |title=Tevez sinks Blues |date=27 February 2009 |work=ESPN Soccernet |access-date=25 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100302172516/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=270045&cc=5739&league=ENG.1 |archive-date=2 March 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Chelsea went on to win the [[2009–10 Premier League]], Ballack's first league title in England.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=269758&cc=5739&league=ENG.1 |title=Chelsea break records to win title |date=9 May 2009 |work=ESPN FC |access-date=25 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100721195910/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=269758&cc=5739&league=ENG.1 |archive-date=21 July 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He also started as Chelsea were victorious against Portsmouth in the [[2010 FA Cup Final|2010 FA Cup final]], however he would come off injured shortly before half-time after a tackle by [[Kevin-Prince Boateng]]. As a result of the injury, Ballack was not able to participate in the [[2010 FIFA World Cup|2010 World Cup]].<ref name=nearlyman/><ref name="football-analysis.com">{{cite web | url = http://www.football-analysis.com/michael-ballack-farewell-to-a-chelsea-legend/ | title = Michael Ballack: Farewell to a Chelsea Legend | publisher = Football Analysis | date = 9 October 2012 | access-date = 1 August 2014 | first = Grant | last = James}}</ref>

{{wikinews|Football: Chelsea confirm Joe Cole and Michael Ballack departure}}
On 9 June 2010, it was announced that Ballack, along with teammates Joe Cole and [[Juliano Belletti]], would leave Chelsea on a free transfer after his contract was not renewed.<ref name="Ballack to leave Chelsea">{{cite news|work=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/8729993.stm |title=Joe Cole, Juliano Belletti and Michael Ballack to leave Chelsea |date=9 June 2010 |access-date=4 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100721195910/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/8729993.stm |archive-date=21 July 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It was reported that while manager [[Carlo Ancelotti]] wanted to retain Ballack, club owner [[Roman Abramovich]] was only willing to offer a one-year deal due to Ballack's age.<ref name="football-analysis.com" /> As of December 2012, Ballack had the lowest loss record of any player with more than 100 appearances in the Premier League, losing just 10 of his 105 appearances.<ref>{{cite web |title=The golden rule |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12038/8327380/the-golden-rule |website=Sky Sports |date=13 December 2012}}</ref>

=== Return to Bayer Leverkusen ===
On 25 June 2010, Ballack signed a two-year contract with former club Bayer Leverkusen.<ref name="Ballack rejoins Leverkusen">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/jun/25/michael-ballack-bayer-leverkusen |title=Bayer Leverkusen sign Michael Ballack on two-year contract |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=25 June 2010 |access-date=4 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100721195910/http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jun/25/michael-ballack-bayer-leverkusen |archive-date=21 July 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 19 August 2010, he scored the first goal for Leverkusen in a 3–0 win against [[SC Tavriya Simferopol|Tavriya Simferopol]] in the [[UEFA Europa League]] qualifiers. On 6 October 2010, it was announced that Ballack would not play again in 2010 at the club or international level due to a shin injury sustained 11 September 2010 in a [[2010–11 Bundesliga|Bundesliga]] match against [[Hannover 96]].

On 20 February 2011, Ballack made his return from injury, coming on as a substitute for [[Simon Rolfes]] against [[VfB Stuttgart]]; Leverkusen won the match 4–2. Ballack scored his second [[2010–11 UEFA Europa League|Europa League]] goal against [[FC Metalist Kharkiv|Metalist Kharkiv]], a match Leverkusen won 2–0 and the two-legged tie 6–0 on aggregate to progress to the round of 16.<ref>{{cite web|title=Leverkusen prove too strong for Metalist |date=24 February 2011 |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0254-0d7cfecc6a9a-58c10e989eb8-1000--leverkusen-prove-too-strong-for-metalist/ |access-date=25 February 2011 |work=[[UEFA]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100721195910/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season%3D2011/matches/round%3D2000129/match%3D2003798/postmatch/report/index.html |archive-date=21 July 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> Ballack played the full 90 minutes against Schalke 04, assisting [[Eren Derdiyok]]'s goal in an eventual 2–0 victory.<ref>{{cite web|title=Leverkusen narrow gap on Dortmund |url=http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14926548,00.html |date=20 March 2011 |access-date=21 March 2011 |publisher=[[Deutsche Welle]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100721195910/http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0%2C%2C14926548%2C00.html |archive-date=21 July 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Retirement ===
Ballack announced his retirement on 2 October 2012.<ref name=RetirementWelt>{{cite news|title=Ex-Capitano Michael Ballack beendet seine Karriere |language=de |url=https://www.welt.de/sport/article109593468/Ex-Capitano-Michael-Ballack-beendet-seine-Karriere.html |access-date=2 October 2012 |newspaper=[[Die Welt]] |date=2 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100721195910/http://www.welt.de/sport/article109593468/Ex-Capitano-Michael-Ballack-beendet-seine-Karriere.html |archive-date=21 July 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Ballack announces retirement |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1178004/michael-ballack-announces-retirement?cc=5901 |access-date=2 October 2012 |newspaper=ESPN FC |date=2 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100721195910/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1178004/michael-ballack-announces-retirement?cc=5901 |archive-date=21 July 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He had been in talks with [[Major League Soccer]]'s [[CF Montreal|Montreal Impact]] and [[A-League]] club [[Western Sydney Wanderers FC|Western Sydney Wanderers]].<ref name=RetirementWelt/>

On 5 June 2013, Ballack played a farewell match at [[Leipzig]]'s [[Red Bull Arena (Leipzig)|Red Bull Arena]]. The match was won by a World XI 4–3 against the "Friends of Ballack", with Ballack scoring his second hat-trick in his career. First he scored two goals with "Friends of Ballack" in the first half and scored his third goal and the winner in the second half for the World XI. Participants in the match included former teammates and friends [[Lothar Matthäus]], [[Didier Drogba]], [[Miroslav Klose]], [[Andriy Shevchenko]], [[Phillip Lahm]], [[Hasan Salihamidžić]], [[Dimitar Berbatov]], [[Michael Essien]], [[André Schürrle]], [[Ricardo Carvalho]], [[Dietmar Hamann]], [[Florent Malouda]], Carsten Jancker, [[Torsten Frings]], [[Jens Lehmann]], [[Christian Wörns]], [[Mehdi Mahdavikia]] and [[Per Mertesacker]], as well as [[Formula 1]] racing driver [[Michael Schumacher]]. The teams were coached by Ballack's former Chelsea coach [[José Mourinho]] and his former national team coach [[Rudi Völler]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dw.de/football-stars-celebrate-ballacks-career-in-charity-match/a-16862788 |title=Football stars celebrate Ballack's career in charity match |date=5 June 2013 |work=Deutsche Welle |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100721195910/http://www.dw.de/football-stars-celebrate-ballacks-career-in-charity-match/a-16862788 |archive-date=21 July 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== International career ==
[[File:Confed-Cup 2005 Eröffnungsspiel (Elfmeter Ballack).JPG|thumb|200px|Ballack converting a penalty for Germany at the [[2005 FIFA Confederations Cup|2005 Confederations Cup]] in a match against [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]]]]
On 26 March 1996, Ballack debuted for the [[Germany national under-21 football team|Germany national under-21 team]] against [[Denmark national under-21 football team|Denmark]], shortly after signing for Chemnitzer FC. In all, he played 19 matches for this side, scoring four goals. Then, following his move to 1. FC Kaiserslautern, [[Germany national football team|senior team]] head coach [[Berti Vogts]] called him up to the squad.

Ballack's first senior Germany appearance, however, did not come until 28 April 1999, when he came on as a substitute for [[Dietmar Hamann]] in a match against [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]].<ref name="debut against scotland">{{cite web|url=http://www.fussballdaten.de/freundschaftsspiele/1999/deutschland-schottland |title=Ballack's debut against Scotland |work=Fussballdaten.de |access-date=4 July 2011 |language=de |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100721195910/http://www.fussballdaten.de/freundschaftsspiele/1999/deutschland-schottland |archive-date=21 July 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Ballack only played 63 minutes at [[UEFA Euro 2000]]. In the [[2002 FIFA World Cup]], he scored in matches against the [[United States men's national soccer team|United States]] and [[South Korea national football team|South Korea]] during the knockout rounds as Germany reached the final. However, he was booked for a tactical foul during the semi-final match against South Korea and was suspended for [[2002 FIFA World Cup Final|the final]], which Germany went on to lose 2–0 to [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]]. He was included in the [[FIFA World Cup awards#All-Star Team|World Cup All Star Team]]. Ballack missing the final ultimately led to a lasting revision of the [[Penalty card#Yellow card|yellow card]] amnesty rule in order "to give the best players a chance to play in the final".<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-soccer-world-cards/yellow-card-rule-changed-to-keep-big-names-in-final-idUSTRE65I0YN20100619 | title = Yellow card rule changed to keep big names in final | website = Reuters | date = 19 June 2010 | access-date = 1 May 2018 | first = Andrew | last = Cawthorne}}</ref> Following [[UEFA Euro 2004|Euro 2004]], [[Jürgen Klinsmann]] replaced [[Rudi Völler]] at the helm of the national team and Ballack took over from [[Oliver Kahn]] as captain. He scored three goals — all penalties — in the [[2005 FIFA Confederations Cup|2005 Confederations Cup]], in which Germany were eliminated by [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] in the semifinals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dfb.de/en/news/detail/fifa-confederations-cup-host-germany-lose-2-3-against-brazil-4615/|title=FIFA CONFEDERATIONS CUP: HOST GERMANY LOSE 2-3 AGAINST BRAZIL|work=dfb.de|date=26 June 2005|access-date=25 June 2016}}</ref>

[[File:Sweden x germany 2006.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Ballack (#13) during the match against [[Sweden men's national football team|Sweden]] at the [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006 World Cup]]]]
In the [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006 World Cup]], he was unable to start in Germany's first game against [[Costa Rica national football team|Costa Rica]] due to a calf strain, but appeared in the following five matches. Germany were eliminated in the semi-finals, but they managed to clinch third place in a match against [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]]. He was named [[Man of the Match]] in the games against [[Ecuador national football team|Ecuador]] and [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]],<ref>{{cite web|title=13 BALLACK Michael |publisher=[[FIFA]] |url=http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/w/player/177667_BALLACK_Michael.html |access-date=13 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060811011154/http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/w/player/177667_BALLACK_Michael.html |archive-date=11 August 2006 }}</ref> and was included in [[FIFA]]'s [[FIFA World Cup awards#All-Star Team|World Cup All Star Team]] for a second consecutive time. After the tournament, Klinsmann stood down as national team head coach and was succeeded by assistant [[Joachim Löw]].

Ballack started and captained Germany in their first game of [[UEFA Euro 2008|Euro 2008]] against [[Poland national football team|Poland]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Germany–Poland Euro 08 |work=Fussballdaten.de |url=http://www.fussballdaten.de/em/2008/endrunde/vorrunde/gruppeb/deutschland-polen |access-date=4 July 2011 |language=de |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100721195910/http://www.fussballdaten.de/em/2008/endrunde/vorrunde/gruppeb/deutschland-polen |archive-date=21 July 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He proved to be an influential figure in the midfield as Germany came back from a shock defeat to [[Croatia national football team|Croatia]] to make it to the [[UEFA Euro 2008 Final|final]], scoring a free kick against [[Austria national football team|Austria]] to secure Germany a 1–0 win and a place in the quarter-finals.<ref name="rsssf3">{{cite web|date=17 September 2010 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/ballack-intlg.html |title=Michael Ballack – Goals in International Matches |first=Roberto |last=Mamrud |access-date=9 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100721195910/http://rsssf.com/miscellaneous/ballack-intlg.html |archive-date=21 July 2010 |website=[[RSSSF]] |url-status=live }}</ref> In the quarter-finals, he scored a header against Portugal to make the score 3–1 in their 3–2 win after an assist by [[Bastian Schweinsteiger]]'s 60th minute free-kick, helping Germany to advance to the semi-finals. Germany went on to beat [[Turkey national football team|Turkey]] 3–2 in the semifinals. Prior to the final, Ballack sustained a calf injury but eventually overcame it in time. Germany, however, ended up losing 1–0 to [[Spain men's national football team|Spain]]. Nevertheless, he was named in the Squad of the Tournament.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Williams|first=Simon|title=Euro 2008: The Official UEFA Squad Of The Tournament|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/33716-euro-2008-the-official-uefa-squad-of-the-tournament|access-date=2021-08-10|website=Bleacher Report|language=en}}</ref>

Ballack scored four goals in the [[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|2010 World Cup qualifiers]], but missed the [[2010 FIFA World Cup|2010 World Cup]] after suffering an ankle injury from a foul by [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]]'s [[Kevin-Prince Boateng]] in the [[2009–10 FA Cup]] final.<ref name="WC2010-Ankle">{{cite web|title=DFB: Ballack fällt für die WM aus |publisher=[[ZDF]] |url=http://fussball.zdf.de/ZDFsport/inhalt/2/0,5676,8072706,00.html?dr=1 |date=17 May 2010 |access-date=17 May 2010 |language=de |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100721195910/http://fussball.zdf.de/ZDFsport/inhalt/2/0%2C5676%2C8072706%2C00.html?dr=1 |archive-date=21 July 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Ballack did travel to South Africa to provide moral support for the national team but he departed after [[Philipp Lahm]], who was appointed team captain due to Ballack's injury, commented after the quarter-finals that he would not relinquish the captaincy back to Ballack. Team manager [[Oliver Bierhoff]] criticized Lahm's comments and clarified the situation, saying, "Philipp Lahm is the World Cup captain and Michael Ballack is still the captain."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,704913,00.html |title=A Power Struggle on the Germany National Team? |work=[[Spiegel Online]] |date=6 July 2010 |access-date=17 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100216115834/http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0%2C1518%2C704913%2C00.html |archive-date=16 February 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[File:Michael Ballack 2009 cropped.jpg|thumb|Ballack in 2009]]
Germany played strongly in the tournament despite Ballack's absence, including a 4–1 win over [[England national football team|England]] and a 4–0 win over Argentina en route to finishing third, thanks to emerging midfield talents such as [[Sami Khedira]], [[Thomas Müller]], and [[Mesut Özil]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,704743,00.html |title=The Team Is 'Winning Hearts Beyond Germany's Borders' |work=Spiegel Online |date=5 July 2010 |access-date=17 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100216115834/http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0%2C1518%2C704743%2C00.html |archive-date=16 February 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Former German captain Lothar Matthäus suggested that Ballack's absence had allowed these young players to blossom.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/germany/7868860/Argentina-v-Germany-Lothar-Matthaus-says-Germany-are-better-without-Michael-Ballack.html | title = Argentina v Germany: Lothar Matthäus says Germany are better without Michael Ballack | publisher = The Telegraph | date = 3 July 2010 | access-date = 26 August 2014 | first = Mark | last = Ogden}}</ref>

Since the 2010 World Cup qualifiers, Ballack had not been called up for any international matches. It was reported that Germany coach Joachim Löw was waiting for Ballack to retire from international football after the 2010 World Cup, however Ballack refused to give up despite a rash of injuries suffered in 2010–11 with Bayer Leverkusen.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2012/jan/31/leverkusen-michael-ballack |title=Pride, pig-headedness and glee: Leverkusen's Project Ballack fails |first=Raphael |last=Honigstein |work=The Guardian |date=31 January 2012 |access-date=17 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100216115834/http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/jan/31/leverkusen-michael-ballack |archive-date=16 February 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 16 June 2011, it was announced that Ballack would no longer be a part of the national team. The [[German Football Association]] (DFB) offered him two [[exhibition game|friendlies]] to reach 100 matches for Germany, which he refused, accusing Löw of disrespecting him ever since his injury dating back to March 2010 and calling the invitation to compete in another two games for Germany a "farce".<ref>{{cite web|work=[[Kicker (sports magazine)|kicker]] |url=https://www.kicker.de/ballack_an-scheinheiligkeit-nicht-zu-ueberbieten-554061/artikel |title=Ballack: "An Scheinheiligkeit nicht zu überbieten |date=17 June 2011 |access-date=22 June 2011 |language=de |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100216115834/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/nationalelf/startseite/554061/artikel_ballack_an-scheinheiligkeit-nicht-zu-ueberbieten.html |archive-date=16 February 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=18 June 2011 |access-date=22 June 2011 |work=kicker |title=Löw: "Weiß, was besprochen wurde" |language=de |url=https://www.kicker.de/loew_weiss-was-besprochen-wurde-554075/artikel |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100216115834/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/nationalelf/startseite/554075/artikel_loew_weiss-was-besprochen-wurde.html |archive-date=16 February 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Ballack organized a farewell game by himself and invited Löw and Lahm. The teams on the pit were named Worldplayers vs. Ballack and Friends. Lahm played for 90 minutes. In attendance were [[Boris Becker]], [[Michael Schumacher]], [[Lothar Matthäus]] and [[Rudi Völler]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ahrens |first=Peter |date=2013-06-06 |title=Abschiedsspiel von Michael Ballack in Leipzig |language=de |work=Der Spiegel |url=https://www.spiegel.de/sport/fussball/abschiedsspiel-von-michael-ballack-in-leipzig-a-904055.html |access-date=2022-07-09 |issn=2195-1349}}</ref>

== Style of play ==
Ballack is considered to be one of the best and most versatile midfielders of his generation;<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.sportstaronnet.com/tss2912/stories/20060325006902900.htm|title = Ballack on the ball|website = www.sportstaronnet.com|access-date = 7 September 2015}}</ref> normally deployed in the [[Central midfielder|centre]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/news/01b5-0e6d8902508b-1e76fd380d35-1000--ballack-cheered-by-chelsea-challenge/ |title=Ballack cheered by Chelsea challenge |publisher=[[UEFA]] |date=15 May 2006 |access-date=26 September 2023 }}</ref> in a [[box-to-box]] role,<ref name="complete midfielder">{{cite web |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/performance/training/michael-ballack-how-be-complete-midfielder |title=Michael Ballack: How to be the complete midfielder |publisher=fourfourtwo.com |last1=Welch |first1=Ben |date=25 February 2013 |access-date=26 September 2023 }}</ref> he played in several midfield positions during his career,<ref name="Ballack retires"/> including in the roles of [[Attacking midfielder|offensive]] and [[holding midfielder]],<ref name="is the box-to-box midfielder dead?">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2009/apr/22/where-have-box-to-box-midfielders-gone |title=The Question: is the box-to-box midfielder dead? |work=The Guardian |last1=Wilson |first1=Jonathan |date=22 April 2009 |access-date=26 September 2023 }}</ref> and was noted for his powerful shot with both feet.<ref name="Ballack retires"/> Due to his tall frame, he was also known for his ability in the air, which made him a goal threat on set pieces.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1062508-the-25-most-lethal-headers-in-world-football |title=25 Lethal Headers in World Football |publisher=Bleacher Report |last1=Turner |first1=Mikhail |date=13 February 2012 |access-date=25 April 2020 }}</ref> He also excelled at making late runs into the penalty area.<ref name="Ballack personifies elegance">{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/ballack-personifies-elegance-on-the-field-1.830182 |title=Ballack personifies elegance on the field |work=CBC Sports |last1=Molinaro |first1=John F. |last2=Kreindler |first2=Derek |date=18 November 2009 |access-date=26 September 2023 }}</ref>

On a technical level, he was a commanding, physically strong and aggressive player, with excellent passing range, who moved the ball efficiently,<ref name="Ballack retires"/> and who was capable of creating chances for his team.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/405094-milan-should-sign-both-michael-ballack-and-joe-cole |title=Milan Should Sign Both Michael Ballack and Joe Cole |publisher=Bleacher Report |last1=Tigani |first1=Frank |date=12 June 2010 |access-date=26 September 2023 }}</ref> An elegant player on the ball,<ref name="Ballack personifies elegance"/> the technicality and intelligence of his game was extremely high.<ref name="Ballack Biography">{{Cite book|title = Michael Ballack – The Biography|last = Reedie|first = Euan|publisher = John Blake|year = 2008 |location = London, England|pages = 41–65}}</ref><ref name="bridesmaid">{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/201762-michael-ballack-european-footballs-serial-bridesmaid |title=Michael Ballack, European Football's Serial Bridesmaid |publisher=Bleacher Report |last1=Mehrban |first1=Muazzin |date=18 June 2009 |access-date=26 September 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/makelele-may-be-left-to-pick-up-the-pieces-in-midfield-revolution-tgmfflxgscv |title=Makelele may be left to pick up the pieces in midfield revolution |work=[[The Times]] |date=26 September 2023 |access-date=26 September 2023 }}</ref> He started his football career as a [[Sweeper (association football)|sweeper]],<ref name="Ballack Biography"/> but when he moved to Leverkusen in 1999, then-coach Christoph Daum moved him to midfield.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/played-for-bayern-munich-and-bayer-leverkusen-vidal-kroos-ballack-17574 |title=Arturo Vidal, Toni Kroos, Michael Ballack and the players who played for Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen |publisher=bundesliga.com |access-date=26 September 2023 }}</ref> He adapted to playing in a deeper role on occasion during his spell at Chelsea.<ref name="is the box-to-box midfielder dead?"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/8218061.stm |title=Lee Dixon's tactical view |work=BBC Sport |last1=Dixon |first1=Lee |date=24 August 2009 |access-date=26 September 2023 }}</ref> Ballack was also a strong tackler, which combined with his stamina, as well as his aerial, [[Playmaker|playmaking]], and goalscoring abilities, made him a "complete midfielder," as he was once described by Ben Welch of ''FourFourTwo'' magazine in 2013.<ref name="complete midfielder"/><ref name="bridesmaid"/><ref name="marvel">{{cite web |url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/michael-ballack-bayern-munich-leverkusen-germany-legend-24473 |title=Michael Ballack: a midfield marvel for Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich and Germany |publisher=bundesliga.com |access-date=26 September 2023 }}</ref>

Beyond his playing ability, Ballack also stood out for his leadership qualities throughout his career.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/jun/25/germanyfootballteam.euro20081 |title=The Ballack Ultimatum |work=The Guardian |last1=Honigstein |first1=Raphael |date=25 June 2008 |access-date=26 September 2023 }}</ref> In 2011, Ballack's international coach at the time, Joachim Löw, praised him, describing him as a player who "exudes authority and calm on the pitch".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/soccer/2011/04/18/loew-impressed-with-ballack|title=Loew impressed with Ballack|website=Times LIVE|date=18 April 2011|access-date=7 September 2015}}</ref> Despite his ability as a player, his later career was often limited by recurring injury struggles.<ref name="marvel"/>

== Personal life ==
Ballack's surname is of [[Sorbs|Sorbian]] origin.<ref>{{cite web|author=Die Welt|publisher=Die Welt|date=2006|title=Ballack, das Plappermaul|url=https://www.welt.de/print-welt/article223316/Ballack-das-Plappermaul.html|quote=Ballack deutet nämlich Jürgen Udolph, der Leipziger Professor für Namenkunde, als eine sorbische Sproßform von Balthasar. Gegen diese Lesart kommt aber entschiedener Widerstand aus dem Institut für Slawistik an der Hamburger Universität. Ballack, heißt es da, kommt vom slawischen "bala" für erzählen, sprechen – in abwertender Form also: quasseln, plappern -, und "-ak" ist ein Suffix (Nachsilbe) und bedeutet, daß einer das tut. Ein "agens", wie die Namenforscher sagen. Ballack (richtig geschrieben: Balak) wäre also auf gut deutsch: das Plappermaul. Der Ball heißt auf polnisch: pilka.}}</ref> He was the only child of father Stephan, an engineer who played third-division football, and mother Karin, a secretary and swimmer.<ref name=Telegraph2335321>{{cite news|title=The secret life of Germany's poster boy|author=Hannah Cleaver|date=15 April 2006|publisher=Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/european/2335321/The-secret-life-of-Germanys-poster-boy.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/european/2335321/The-secret-life-of-Germanys-poster-boy.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

On 14 July 2008, Ballack married his long-time girlfriend Simone Lambe.<ref>{{cite news|author=Cadwalladr, Carole |work=The Guardian |location=UK |date=4 June 2006 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/jun/04/worldcup2006.sport37 |title=Meet the real footballers' wives |access-date=10 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100418162521/http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2006/jun/04/worldcup2006.sport37 |archive-date=18 April 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The couple had three children together: Louis (born 2001), Emilio (2002–2021), and Jordi (born 2005).<ref name="Michael Ballack Official Profile">{{cite web|url=http://www.michael-ballack.com/?201A1A2|title=Personal Data|publisher=Michael Ballack|date=16 January 2009|access-date=16 January 2009}}</ref> The couple divorced in 2012. He dated Natacha Tannous from 2015 to 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.efinancialcareers.com/de-en/283750/a-goldman-sachs-ed-just-quit-for-a-sports-crowdfunding-company|title=Ex-Goldman Sachs ED and girlfriend of Michael Ballack joins a crowdfunding company|work=efinancialcareers|date=17 May 2017}}</ref>

During [[UEFA Euro 2012|Euro 2012]], the [[2014 FIFA World Cup|2014 World Cup]], and [[UEFA Euro 2016|Euro 2016]], Ballack worked as a studio analyst for [[ESPN]], often alongside [[Alexi Lalas]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3353/mls/2012/06/05/3150370/ballacks-negotiations-with-montreal-impact-have-stalled-as |title=Ballack's negotiations with Montreal Impact have stalled as club target Clarence Seedorf |work=Goal.com |date=5 June 2012 |access-date=1 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100216115834/http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3353/mls/2012/06/05/3150370/ballacks-negotiations-with-montreal-impact-have-stalled-as |archive-date=16 February 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

His son, Emilio, died in a quad bike crash on 5 August 2021 at the age of 18.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Steinbuch|first=Yaron|date=5 August 2021|title=Son of former German soccer star Michael Ballack killed in quad-bike crash|url=https://nypost.com/2021/08/05/son-of-soccer-star-michael-ballack-killed-in-quad-bike-crash/|access-date=5 August 2021|website=New York Post|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Career statistics ==

=== Club ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes [[DFB-Pokal]], [[FA Cup]]}}
!colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes [[DFB-Ligapokal]], [[Football League Cup]]}}
!colspan="2"|Europe
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="3"|Chemnitzer FC II
|1994–95<ref name="rsssf2"/>
|Oberliga Nordost Süd
|7||2||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||7||2
|-
|1995–96<ref name="rsssf2"/>
|Oberliga Nordost Süd
|11||3||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||11||3
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!18!!5!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!18!!5
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Chemnitzer FC]]
|[[1995–96 2. Bundesliga|1995–96]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Ballack, Michael|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/1995-96/1666/vereinsspieler_michael-ballack.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140812040425/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/1995-96/1666/vereinsspieler_michael-ballack.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 August 2014|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=11 August 2014|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Chemnitzer FC » Appearances DFB-Pokal 1995/1996|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/team_performance/chemnitzer-fc/dfb-pokal-1995-1996/|publisher=WorldFootball.Net|access-date=11 August 2014}}</ref>
|[[2. Bundesliga]]
|15||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||16||0
|-
|[[1996–97 Fußball-Regionalliga|1996–97]]<ref name="rsssf2"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Chemnitzer FC » Appearances DFB-Pokal 1996/1997|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/team_performance/chemnitzer-fc/dfb-pokal-1996-1997/|publisher=WorldFootball.net|access-date=11 August 2014}}</ref>
|[[Regionalliga Nordost]]
|34||10||1||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||35||10
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!49!!10!!2!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!51!!10
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[1. FC Kaiserslautern]]
|[[1997–98 Bundesliga|1997–98]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Ballack, Michael|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/1997-98/1666/vereinsspieler_michael-ballack.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825102220/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/1997-98/1666/vereinsspieler_michael-ballack.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 August 2010|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=11 August 2014|language=de}}</ref>
|[[Bundesliga]]
|16||0||2||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||18||0
|-
|[[1998–99 1. FC Kaiserslautern season|1998–99]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Michael Ballack|url=https://www.fussballdaten.de/spieler/ballackmichael/1999/|publisher=Fussballdaten.de|access-date=11 August 2014|language=de}}</ref>
|Bundesliga
|30||4||2||0||1||0||6{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in [[UEFA Champions League]]}}||0||colspan="2"|–||39||4
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!46!!4!!4!!0!!1!!0!!6!!0!!0!!0!!57!!4
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Bayer 04 Leverkusen|Bayer Leverkusen]]
|[[1999–2000 Bayer 04 Leverkusen season|1999–2000]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Ballack, Michael|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/1999-00/1666/vereinsspieler_michael-ballack.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140812040423/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/1999-00/1666/vereinsspieler_michael-ballack.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 August 2014|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=11 August 2014|language=de}}</ref>
|Bundesliga
|23||3||0||0||0||0||2{{efn|name=UC|Appearances in [[UEFA Cup]]}}||2||colspan="2"|–||25||5
|-
|[[2000–01 Bayer 04 Leverkusen season|2000–01]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Michael Ballack|url=http://www.fussballdaten.de/spieler/ballackmichael/2001/|publisher=Fussballdaten.de|access-date=11 August 2014|language=de}}</ref>
|Bundesliga
|27||7||2||0||1||0||5{{efn|name=UC}}||2||colspan="2"|–||35||9
|-
|[[2001–02 Bayer 04 Leverkusen season|2001–02]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Michael Ballack|url=http://www.fussballdaten.de/spieler/ballackmichael/2002/|publisher=Fussballdaten.de|access-date=11 August 2014|language=de}}</ref>
|Bundesliga
|29||17||4||0||1||0||16{{efn|name=UCL}}||6||colspan="2"|–||50||23
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!79!!27!!6!!0!!2!!0!!23!!10!!0!!0!!110!!37
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]]
|[[2002–03 FC Bayern Munich season|2002–03]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Ballack, Michael|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/2002-03/1666/vereinsspieler_michael-ballack.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825092223/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/2002-03/1666/vereinsspieler_michael-ballack.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 August 2010|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=11 August 2014|language=de}}</ref>
|Bundesliga
|26||10||5||4||0||0||7{{efn|name=UCL}}||1||colspan="2"|–||38||15
|-
|[[2003–04 FC Bayern Munich season|2003–04]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Michael Ballack|url=https://www.fussballdaten.de/spieler/ballackmichael/2004/|publisher=Fussballdaten.de|access-date=11 August 2014|language=de}}</ref>
|Bundesliga
|28||7||3||2||1||2||8{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||colspan="2"|–||40||11
|-
|[[2004–05 FC Bayern Munich season|2004–05]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Michael Ballack|url=https://www.fussballdaten.de/spieler/ballackmichael/2005/|publisher=Fussballdaten.de|access-date=11 August 2014|language=de}}</ref>
|Bundesliga
|27||13||4||3||2||2||9{{efn|name=UCL}}||2||colspan="2"|–||42||20
|-
|[[2005–06 FC Bayern Munich season|2005–06]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Ballack, Michael|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/2005-06/1666/vereinsspieler_michael-ballack.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100824155748/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/2005-06/1666/vereinsspieler_michael-ballack.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 August 2010|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=11 August 2014|language=de}}</ref>
|Bundesliga
|26||14||5||1||0||0||6{{efn|name=UCL}}||1||colspan="2"|–||37||16
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!107!!44!!17!!10!!3!!4!!30!!4!!0!!0!!157!!62
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]]
|[[2006–07 Chelsea F.C. season|2006–07]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Michael Ballack|url=https://www.espnfc.com/player/12641/michael-ballack?season=2006|website=ESPN FC|publisher=ESPN|access-date=11 August 2014}}</ref>
|[[Premier League]]
|26||5||3||1||6||0||10{{efn|name=UCL}}||2||1{{efn|name=FACS|Appearance in [[FA Community Shield]]}}||0||46||8
|-
|[[2007–08 Chelsea F.C. season|2007–08]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Michael Ballack|url=https://www.espnfc.com/player/12641/michael-ballack?season=2007|website=ESPN FC|publisher=ESPN|access-date=11 August 2014}}</ref>
|Premier League
|18||7||2||0||0||0||9{{efn|name=UCL}}||2||0||0||29||9
|-
|[[2008–09 Chelsea F.C. season|2008–09]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Michael Ballack|url=https://www.espnfc.com/player/12641/michael-ballack?season=2008|website=ESPN FC|publisher=ESPN|access-date=11 August 2014}}</ref>
|Premier League
|29||1||6||3||1||0||10{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||colspan="2"|–||46||4
|-
|[[2009–10 Chelsea F.C. season|2009–10]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Michael Ballack|url=https://www.espnfc.com/player/12641/michael-ballack?season=2009|website=ESPN FC|publisher=ESPN|access-date=11 August 2014}}</ref>
|Premier League
|32||4||4||1||2||0||6{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||1{{efn|name=FACS}}||0||45||5
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!105!!17!!15!!5!!9!!0!!35!!4!!2!!0!!166!!26
|-
|rowspan="3"|Bayer Leverkusen
|[[2010–11 Bayer 04 Leverkusen season|2010–11]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Ballack, Michael|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/2010-11/1666/vereinsspieler_michael-ballack.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825102242/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/2010-11/1666/vereinsspieler_michael-ballack.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 August 2010|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=11 August 2014|language=de}}</ref>
|Bundesliga
|17||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||3{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in [[UEFA Europa League]]}}||2||colspan="2"|–||20||2
|-
|[[2011–12 Bayer 04 Leverkusen season|2011–12]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Ballack, Michael|url=https://www.kicker.de/michael-ballack/spieler/bundesliga/2011-12/bayer-04-leverkusen|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=11 August 2014|language=de}}</ref>
|Bundesliga
|18||2||1||0||colspan="2"|–||6{{efn|name=UCL}}||1||colspan="2"|–||25||3
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!35!!2!!1!!0!!0!!0!!9!!3!!0!!0!!45!!5
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!439!!109!!45!!15!!15!!4!!103!!21!!2!!0!!604!!149
|}
{{notelist}}

===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="12"|[[Germany national football team|Germany]]
|1999||3||0
|-
|2000||9||0
|-
|2001||9||6
|-
|2002||11||6
|-
|2003||5||2
|-
|2004||13||8
|-
|2005||11||7
|-
|2006||14||6
|-
|2007||2||0
|-
|2008||12||4
|-
|2009||8||3
|-
|2010||1||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!98!!42
|}

:''Scores and results list Germany's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Ballack goal.''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Michael Ballack
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
|-
|align="center"|1||28 March 2001||[[Olympic Stadium (Athens)|Olympic Stadium]], [[Athens]], Greece||{{fb|GRE}}||align="center"|2–1||align="center"|4–2||[[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|2002 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
|align="center"|2||2 June 2001||[[Helsinki Olympic Stadium]], [[Helsinki]], Finland||{{fb|FIN}}||align="center"|2–1||align="center"|2–2||2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
|-
|align="center"|3||6 June 2001||[[Selman Stërmasi Stadium]], [[Tirana]], Albania||{{fb|ALB}}||align="center"|2–0||align="center"|2–0||2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
|-
|align="center"|4||10 November 2001|| [[Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex]], [[Kyiv]], Ukraine||{{fb|UKR}}||align="center"|1–1||align="center"|1–1||2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
|-
|align="center"|5||rowspan="2"|14 November 2001||rowspan="2"|[[Signal Iduna Park]], [[Dortmund]], Germany||rowspan="2"|{{fb|UKR}}||align="center"|1–0||rowspan="2" align="center"|4–1||rowspan="2"|2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
|-
|align="center"|6||align="center"|4–0
|-
|align="center"|7||1 June 2002||[[Sapporo Dome]], [[Sapporo]], Japan||{{fb|SAU}}||align="center"|3–0||align="center"|8–0||[[2002 FIFA World Cup]]
|-
|align="center"|8||21 June 2002|| [[Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium]], [[Ulsan]], South Korea||{{fb|USA}}||align="center"|1–0||align="center"|1–0||2002 FIFA World Cup
|-
|align="center"|9||25 June 2002||[[Seoul World Cup Stadium]], [[Seoul]], South Korea||{{fb|KOR}}||align="center"|1–0||align="center"|1–0||2002 FIFA World Cup
|-
|align="center"|10||21 August 2002||[[Vasil Levski National Stadium]], [[Sofia]], Bulgaria||{{fb|BUL}}||align="center"|1–1||align="center"|2–2||[[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
|align="center"|11||7 September 2002||[[Darius and Girėnas Stadium]], [[Kaunas]], Lithuania||{{fb|LIT}}||align="center"|1–0||align="center"|2–0||[[UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying|2004 UEFA Euro qualification]]
|-
|align="center"|12||16 October 2002||[[HDI-Arena]], [[Hanover]], Germany||{{fb|FAR}}||align="center"|1–0||align="center"|2–1||2004 UEFA Euro qualification
|-
|align="center"|13||10 September 2003||Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany||{{fb|SCO}}||align="center"|2–0||align="center"|2–1||2004 UEFA Euro qualification
|-
|align="center"|14||11 October 2003|| [[Volksparkstadion]], [[Hamburg]], Germany||{{fb|ISL}}||align="center"|1–0||align="center"|3–0||2004 UEFA Euro qualification
|-
|align="center"|15|| 31 March 2004||[[Rhein Energie Stadion]], [[Köln]], Germany||{{fb|BEL}}||align="center"|3–0||align="center"|3–0||Friendly 
|-
|align="center"|16||rowspan="4"| 27 May 2004||rowspan="4"|[[Schwarzwald-Stadion]], [[Freiburg]], Germany||rowspan="4"|{{fb|MLT}}||align="center"|1–0||rowspan="4" align="center"|7–0||rowspan="4"|Friendly 
|-
|align="center"|17||align="center"|2–0
|-
|align="center"|18||align="center"|5–0
|-
|align="center"|19||align="center"|6–0
|-
|align="center"|20||23 June 2004||[[Estádio José Alvalade]], [[Lisbon]], Portugal||{{fb|CZE}}||align="center"|1–0||align="center"|1–2||[[UEFA Euro 2004]]
|-
|align="center"|21||16 December 2004||[[Nissan Stadium (Yokohama)|Nissan Stadium]], [[Yokohama]], Japan||{{fb|JPN}}||align="center"|2–0||align="center"|3–0||Friendly
|-
|align="center"|22||19 December 2004||[[Busan Asiad Main Stadium]], [[Busan]], South Korea||{{fb|KOR}}||align="center"|1–1||align="center"|3–1||Friendly
|-
|align="center"|23||rowspan="2"|4 June 2005||rowspan="2"|[[The Oval (Belfast)|The Oval]], [[Belfast]], Northern Ireland||rowspan="2"|{{fb|NIR}}||align="center"|2–1||rowspan="2" align="center"|4–1||rowspan="2"|Friendly
|-
|align="center"|24||align="center"|3–1
|-
|align="center"|25||15 June 2005||[[Commerzbank Arena]], [[Frankfurt]], Germany||{{fb|AUS}}||align="center"|3–2||align="center"|4–3||[[2005 FIFA Confederations Cup]]
|-
|align="center"|26||18 June 2005||Rhein Energie Stadion, Köln, Germany||{{fb|TUN}}||align="center"|1–0||align="center"|3–0||2005 FIFA Confederations Cup
|-
|align="center"|27||25 June 2005||[[Max-Morlock-Stadion]], [[Nuremberg]], Germany||{{fb|BRA}}||align="center"|2–2||align="center"|2–3||2005 FIFA Confederations Cup
|-
|align="center"|28||29 June 2005||[[Red Bull Arena (Leipzig)|Red Bull Arena]], [[Leipzig]], Germany||{{fb|MEX}}||align="center"|4–3||align="center"|4–3 [[Overtime (sports)|a.e.t.]]||2005 FIFA Confederations Cup
|-
|align="center"|29||17 August 2005||[[De Kuip]], [[Rotterdam]], Netherlands||{{fb|NED}}||align="center"|2–1||align="center"|2–2||Friendly
|-
|align="center"|30||22 March 2006|| Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany||{{fb|USA}}||align="center"|4–0||align="center"|4–1||Friendly
|-
|align="center"|31|| 2 June 2006|| [[Borussia Park]], [[Mönchengladbach]], Germany||{{fb|COL}}||align="center"|1–0||align="center"|3–0||Friendly
|-
|align="center"|32||6 September 2006||[[San Marino Stadium]], [[Serravalle (San Marino)|Serravalle]], San Marino||{{fb|SMR}}||align="center"|3–0||align="center"|13–0||[[UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying|2008 UEFA Euro Qualification]]
|-
|align="center"|33||7 October 2006||[[Ostseestadion]], [[Rostock]], Germany||{{fb|GEO}}||align="center"|2–0||align="center"|2–0|| Friendly
|-
|align="center"|34||11 October 2006||[[Štadión Pasienky]], [[Bratislava]], Slovakia||{{fb|SVK}}||align="center"|2–0||align="center"|3–0||[[UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying|2008 UEFA Euro qualification]]
|-
|align="center"|35||15 November 2006||[[GSP Stadium]], [[Nicosia]], Cyprus||{{fb|CYP}}||align="center"|1–0||align="center"|1–1||2008 UEFA Euro qualification
|-
|align="center"|36||31 May 2008||[[Veltins Arena]], [[Gelsenkirchen]], Germany||{{fb|SRB}}||align="center"|2–1||align="center"|2–1||Friendly
|-
|align="center"|37||16 June 2008||[[Ernst Happel Stadion]], [[Vienna]], Austria||{{fb|AUT}}||align="center"|1–0||align="center"|1–0||[[UEFA Euro 2008]]
|-
|align="center"|38||19 June 2008||[[St. Jakob Park]], [[Basel]], Switzerland||{{fb|POR}}||align="center"|3–1||align="center"|3–2||UEFA Euro 2008
|-
|align="center"|39||11 October 2008||Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany||{{fb|RUS}}||align="center"|2–0||align="center"|2–1||[[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|2010 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
|align="center"|40||28 March 2009||Red Bull Arena, Leipzig, Germany||{{fb|LIE}}||align="center"|1–0||align="center"|4–0||2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
|-
|align="center"|41||1 April 2009||[[Millennium Stadium]], [[Cardiff]], Wales||{{fb|WAL}}||align="center"|1–0||align="center"|2–0||2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
|-
|align="center"|42||9 September 2009||HDI Arena, Hanover, Germany||{{fb|AZE}}||align="center"|1–0||align="center"|4–0||2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
|}

==Honours==
'''1. FC Kaiserslautern'''<ref name="Soccerway">{{cite web | url = https://int.soccerway.com/players/michael-ballack/22/ | title = M. Ballack | publisher = Soccerway | access-date = 5 September 2014}}</ref>
*[[Bundesliga]]: [[1997–98 Bundesliga|1997–98]]

'''Bayer Leverkusen'''
*[[DFB-Pokal]] runner-up: [[2001–02 DFB-Pokal|2001–02]]
*[[UEFA Champions League]] runner-up: [[2001–02 UEFA Champions League|2001–02]]

'''Bayern Munich'''<ref name="Soccerway" />
*Bundesliga: [[2002–03 Bundesliga|2002–03]], [[2004–05 Bundesliga|2004–05]], [[2005–06 Bundesliga|2005–06]]
*DFB-Pokal: [[2002–03 DFB-Pokal|2002–03]], [[2004–05 DFB-Pokal|2004–05]], [[2005–06 DFB-Pokal|2005–06]]
*[[DFB-Ligapokal]]: [[2004 DFB-Ligapokal|2004]]

'''Chelsea'''<ref name="Soccerway" />
*[[Premier League]]: [[2009–10 Premier League|2009–10]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/3103/Michael-Ballack/overview |title=Michael Ballack: Overview |publisher=Premier League |access-date=15 April 2018}}</ref>
*[[FA Cup]]: [[2006–07 FA Cup|2006–07]], [[2008–09 FA Cup|2008–09]], [[2009–10 FA Cup|2009–10]]
*[[Football League Cup]]: [[2006–07 Football League Cup|2006–07]];<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/6371613.stm |title=Chelsea 2–1 Arsenal |website=BBC Sport |date=24 February 2008 |access-date=26 March 2024}}</ref> runner-up: [[2007–08 Football League Cup|2007–08]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7256729.stm |title=Tottenham 2–1 Chelsea |first=Jonathan |last=Stevenson |website=BBC Sport |date=24 February 2008 |access-date=25 March 2024}}</ref>
*[[FA Community Shield]]: [[2009 FA Community Shield|2009]]
*UEFA Champions League runner-up: [[2007–08 UEFA Champions League|2007–08]]

'''Germany'''<ref name="Soccerway" /><ref name="club and country stats" />
*[[FIFA World Cup]] runner-up: [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002]]; third place: [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006]]
*[[UEFA European Championship]] runner-up: [[UEFA Euro 2008|2008]]<ref name="Soccerway" />
*[[FIFA Confederations Cup]] third place: [[2005 FIFA Confederations Cup|2005]]

'''Individual'''
*[[UEFA Champions League Best Midfielder|UEFA Club Midfielder of the Year]]: [[UEFA Champions League Best Midfielder|2002]]
*[[UEFA Team of the Year]]: [[UEFA Team of the Year#Team of the Year 2002|2002]]
*[[European Sports Magazines#ESM Team of the Year|ESM Team of the Year]]: [[European Sports Magazines#2001–02|2001–02]]
*[[Footballer of the Year (Germany)]]: [[Footballer of the Year (Germany)|2002]], [[Footballer of the Year (Germany)|2003]], [[Footballer of the Year (Germany)|2005]]; runner-up [[Footballer of the Year (Germany)|2008]]<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/duitpoy.html | title = (West) Germany – Footballer of the Year | date = 4 September 2014 | access-date = 5 September 2014 | first = José Luis | website = [[RSSSF]] | last = Pierrend}}</ref>
*''[[Kicker (sports magazine)|kicker]]'' [[Bundesliga]] Team of the Season: 2001–02, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2005–06<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/bl50/200102/startseite.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018190520/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/bl50/200102/startseite.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 October 2012|title=Bundesliga Historie 2001/02|language=de|publisher=kicker}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/bl50/200203/startseite.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018190523/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/bl50/200203/startseite.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 October 2012|title=Bundesliga Historie 2002/03|language=de|publisher=kicker}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/bl50/200405/startseite.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018190529/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/bl50/200405/startseite.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 October 2012|title=Bundesliga Historie 2004/05|language=de|publisher=kicker}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/bl50/200506/startseite.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018190533/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/bl50/200506/startseite.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 October 2012|title=Bundesliga Historie 2005/06|language=de|publisher=kicker}}</ref>
*kicker Man of the Year (Mann des Jahres): 2002<ref>{{cite web|work=kicker |date=26 December 2011 |access-date=19 October 2012 |language=de |url=https://www.kicker.de/im_ueberblick_die_maenner_des_jahres-546639/artikel |title=Alle Männer des Jahres |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100216115834/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/startseite/546639/artikel_alle-maenner-des-jahres.html |archive-date=16 February 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[FIFA World Cup|FIFA World Cup All-star team]]: [[FIFA World Cup 2002#All-star team|2002]], [[FIFA World Cup 2006#All-star team|2006]]
*[[FIFA|FIFA XI]]: 2002<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/fifa-xi.html | title = FIFA XI´s Matches – Full Info | website = RSSSF | date = 20 October 2015 | access-date = 26 October 2015 | first = Marcelo | last = Leme de Arruda}}</ref>
*[[UEFA European Championship awards|UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament]]: [[UEFA Euro 2004#Awards|2004]], [[UEFA Euro 2008#Awards|2008]]
*Bayer Leverkusen Squad of the Century<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rundschau-online.de/sport/elf-des-jahrhunderts,15184898,15936978.html |title=Elf des Jahrhunderts |work=Kölnische Rundschau |language=de |date=21 May 2004 |access-date=13 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100216115834/http://www.rundschau-online.de/sport/elf-des-jahrhunderts%2C15184898%2C15936978.html |archive-date=16 February 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*[[FIFA 100]]
*[[FIFA Confederations Cup]] Silver Shoe Winner: [[2005 FIFA Confederations Cup#Awards|2005]]
*[[Goal of the Year (Germany)]]: 2008<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportschau.de/sendung/tdm/archiv/chronik00er/juni2008tdm100.html|title=Juni 2008 - Ballack|language=de|publisher=Sportschau|access-date=11 December 2018}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|http://www.michael-ballack.com/}}
* {{Soccerbase}}
* {{ESPN FC|12641}}
* {{Premier League player|3103}}

{{Navboxes
| title = Germany squads
| bg = white
| fg = black
| bordercolor = black
| list1 = 
{{Germany squad 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup}}
{{Germany squad UEFA Euro 2000}}
{{Germany squad 2002 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Germany squad UEFA Euro 2004}}
{{Germany squad 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup}}
{{Germany squad 2006 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Germany squad UEFA Euro 2008}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg = gold
| fg = navy
| bordercolor = navy
| list1 = 
{{2002 FIFA World Cup Team of the Tournament}}
{{2006 FIFA World Cup Team of the Tournament}}
{{UEFA Euro 2004 Team of the Tournament}}
{{UEFA Euro 2008 Team of the Tournament}}
{{2002 UEFA Team of the Year}}
{{2001–02 kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season}}
{{2002–03 kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season}}
{{2004–05 kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season}}
{{2005–06 kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season}}
{{UEFA Club Football Awards}}
{{German Footballer of the Year}}
{{FIFA 100}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ballack, Michael}}
[[Category:1976 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Görlitz]]
[[Category:Footballers from Bezirk Dresden]]
[[Category:German people of Sorbian descent]]
[[Category:German men's footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Chemnitzer FC players]]
[[Category:1. FC Kaiserslautern II players]]
[[Category:1. FC Kaiserslautern players]]
[[Category:Bayer 04 Leverkusen players]]
[[Category:FC Bayern Munich footballers]]
[[Category:Chelsea F.C. players]]
[[Category:Oberliga (football) players]]
[[Category:2. Bundesliga players]]
[[Category:Regionalliga players]]
[[Category:Bundesliga players]]
[[Category:Premier League players]]
[[Category:Germany men's under-21 international footballers]]
[[Category:Germany men's international footballers]]
[[Category:1999 FIFA Confederations Cup players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 2000 players]]
[[Category:2002 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 2004 players]]
[[Category:2005 FIFA Confederations Cup players]]
[[Category:2006 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 2008 players]]
[[Category:FIFA 100]]
[[Category:German expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:German expatriate sportspeople in England]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England]]
[[Category:East German men's footballers]]
[[Category:Footballers from Chemnitz]]
[[Category:Footballers from Bezirk Karl-Marx-Stadt]]