Germany has produced some of the greatest footballers the world has ever had the privilege of watching.
The likes of five-time World Cup player Lothar Matthaus, dual Ballon d’Or winner Franz Beckenbauer and record World Cup goalscorer for 32 years Gerd Muller have graced the football pitch and captured the imaginations of a proud football nation and the world.
Another name that may join this echelon of legendary players may be Michael Ballack.
What else is there to say of him? An inspirational captain and footballer of the highest order, he was the face of German football for a decade. He defined an era and bore the hopes of a nation with aplomb every time he wore the famous and revered German shirt.
A player cruelled by injury and fate, he has endured a career that has had more than its fair share of heartache and near misses.
While his more acclaimed counterparts from bygone eras may have basked in the glory of unprecedented success, the German number 13 has been the glue that held together a team undergoing a period of transition who were fancied to achieve much.
While his halcyon days may be behind him, he is still enjoying his second stint with Bayer Leverkusen. Regardless, Michael Ballack’s not-so-glorious, yet consummate, international career has come to a premature end.
Unjust fate has deprived him of achieving greatness as a player where that ever-elusive Champions League title continues to elude him.
A brilliant individual player, he has never quite received the plaudits or accolades nor the trophies to cement his place as not only his country’s but one of the world’s finest.
With the benefit of hindsight, 2002 can be seen as the story of his career: match-winning performances, near misses, heartache and more heartache. He came runner-up in the Bundesliga, DFB Pokal, UEFA Champions League, and heartbreakingly the World Cup to top off a torrid year.
To make matters worse, he was suspended for the final after scoring the winners in the quarter- and semi-finals.
It was the ultimate disappointment for a proud man who had put everything in to bring Germany its fourth World Cup. German Footballer of the Year in 2002, 2003 and 2005, he is a Bayern Munich legend, having won three doubles with them in four years, and was a critical part of Chelsea’s continued successes, where further heartbreak came in Moscow 2008 in a penalty shootout.
They say it’s perhaps the hardest thing to achieve in football, and that is to captain your team to glory at a World Cup on home soil. That is what faced Ballack in 2006, and while Germany were one of the less fancied teams even at home, their captain led them to third.
Once again, unfancied in Euro 2008 he captained them to a final where the emerging might of Spain and Fernando Torres’ lone strike continued to leave him trophyless at international level.
He was part of Chelsea’s first double-winning team in 2010, then one Kevin Prince-Boateng crippled Ballack’s last chance at glory in South Africa, missing the opportunity to lead his nation into another World Cup.
It has been an extraordinary career for many reasons, and while those who achieve glory are often remembered more vividly and celebrated more, Michael Ballack stood out as clearly the finest player of his generation.
His was the level against which fellow stars Dietmar Haman, Bernd Schneider and Torsten Frings and later Bastian Schweinsteiger, Philip Lahm and Thomas Hitzlsperger, would be measured.
Although he never led Germany to any trophies, Michael Ballack has to be applauded for turning a period of imminent decline into a great period of relative success having shouldered the burden of a nation throughout his whole career.
A player who possesses superb vison, awareness, positioning and leadership as well as a physique, he belied his natural position as a box-to-box midfielder.
His technical qualities and a fearsome right foot – as his 42 international goals would attest – makes him the prototype for the modern day player.
A free-kick genius, humble, and never one to put himself before the team, Michael Ballack’s CV and brilliance as a player form only part of the argument that should entitle him him legendary status.
A career blighted by injury and misfortune, Michael Ballack is a footballing icon recognised in Pele’s 125 greatest living players and although he may have fallen short of greatness while leading his team, he has left an everlasting legacy that continues to spur today’s German stars to achieve greatness.
It has personally been painful for me to see such a champion of the game not given his due respect and be shown the door by German coach Joachim Low, but that’s sport, and his legacy is still intact.
Where do you think he stands among Germany’s greats?
Desiree Guasch
Guest
i agree, as most fans do - ballack deserved more respect from j loew ... turns the pit of my stomach sour thinking of kp boateng
amazonfan
Roar Guru
Kahn is the only goalkeeper to have won the Golden Ball at the World Cup. I think he is definitely a legend of the game. He was also selected by Pele among the 125 greatest living footballers (not that it means all that much, as the list was enormously flawed.)
Johnno
Guest
No one has mentioned Oliver BERHOFF IN ALL THIS IT SURPRISES ME. But we won't add Micheal Schumacer he only played in charity and exhibition matches.
Brian
Guest
The greatest player in the weakest of generations. He helped Germany make the final in 02 and 08 as well as the semis in 06. I believe the 2nd tier description with Klinsman, Brehme is apt? I suppose like both Kahn and Klose what fails him is winning a major trophy. Not his fault but he played 4 times in huge finals and finished 0-4 (UCL Leverkusan, UCL Chelsea, Germany 02 and Germany 08)
subrasub
Guest
well i didnt mention kahn, klinsmann or voeller on purpose because while these players are no doubt german legends, the likes of beckenbauer,matthaus and muller are mortals of the game and i personally think Ballack should be up there with the biggest and the best names of germany. While his time at chelsea may have been seen as sub par by his high standards, but when you move there at 30 and your not the main man, its hard to stand out. He gave chelsea star power off the pitch and an aura on it that is far more important than his performances, he complemented the likes of lampard, deco, cole, robben et al. If things had been different he could have won 2 world cups and a Euro in the space of 6 years leading a pretty underdog team at the time which would no doubt have spiralled himinto immortality, but thats football
amazonfan
Roar Guru
Great to see that you mentioned Kahn. One of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, If he had spent longer in one of the Big 3 leagues, he would probably be more respected.
Bb
Guest
he is the great of german football in my generation and joachim low should be strung up for how he has treated Ballack enough said... it makes me angry just to talk about it
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
I have the utmost respect for Michael Ballack as a player - a player, who gives 100% and expects the same from those around him. A true leader on the pitch. Ballack in many ways reminded me of Roy Keane. Both were strong and uncompromising midfielders, who had flair (although, I reckon, Ballack was the greater technician) but also willingly did the "grunt work". Had to feel sorry for Ballack at WC2002, when he (and Oliver Kahn) was simply outstanding for Germany but missed playing in a WC Final b/c of a silly yellow card picked up in the Semi-Final. And, the jinx continued. In 2010 in the FA Cup Final: Chelsea v Portsmouth an horrendous tackle by Prince Boateng, which could have broken Ballack's leg, prevented Ballack from captaining Germany at WC2010. Pretty sure he never again played for Germany. So, I put Ballack up there - not just amongst Germany's greats (but, I must mention that my age limits my analysis of Germany's greats before the mid-70s), but up there with the world's greats ... at least for his generation. Of course, if the Wall had not fallen in 1989, Michael Ballack would have represented East Germany.
Mattay
Guest
In a word: no. I don't agree he was integral to Chelsea, in fact many would argue he under-performed there. If anything, he was a good, maybe great player in a German generation that was so-so. Only now are they starting to re-emerge, lead by the brilliant Mesut Ozil who I think will be reaping greater plaudits when it comes to the end of his career. Germany has been blessed with some of football's greatest. From the mentioned Matthaus, Beckenbauer and Muller, to Jurgen Klinsmann and Oliver Kahn. These would be your tier 1 German greats. Ballack I would put in tier 2, along with Matthias Sammer, Andy Brehme, Rudi Voeller, Andreas Moller, etc. Sadly, not too many from the last decade would belong in those top 2 tiers. But the future looks bright.
rip enke
Guest
He ill be seen as up there, but you missed one great legend, Robert Enke!