Photo: Bernhard Holub / CC BY-SA 4.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Michael Ballack is, to me, the embodiment of the magnificent nearly-man. Rising from Görlitz in the former East to dominate midfields across Germany and England, he won German Footballer of the Year three times and earned a place among Pelé's FIFA 100. Yet what lingers for me is the heartbreak of his runner-up finishes; the number 13 always felt almost destined to fall just short. That tension between brilliance and bad luck gives his career a tragic dignity I find more compelling than any trophy haul. His pivot to agency work suits that sharp, calculating mind.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Michael Ballack
- Name (Japanese)
- ミヒャエル・バラック
- Reading
- みひゃえる・ばらっく
- Born
- September 26, 1976 (age 49)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Libra / Dragon
- Origin
- Görlitz, Saxony, Germany
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- 189 cm
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- association football player
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- University
- Private
Awards & achievements
- FIFA 100
- 2002 German Footballer of the Year
- Goal of the Year
- Silbernes Lorbeerblatt
- 2003 German Footballer of the Year
- 2005 German Footballer of the Year
- 2005 Osgar
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Michael Ballack born?
Born September 26, 1976 (age 49).
Where is Michael Ballack from?
Michael Ballack is from Görlitz, Saxony, Germany.
What does Michael Ballack do?
Michael Ballack works as association football player.
How tall is Michael Ballack?
Michael Ballack is 189 cm.
Association football player — see all → · More people from Germany →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-17
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.