Michael Ballack (born September 26, 1976 in Görlitz, then East Germany) is a German football player. He plays in central midfield for Bayern Munich in the German Bundesliga as well as in the German national team, which he has captained since 2004. Ballack was transferred to Bayern Munich from Bayer Leverkusen on July 1, 2002, for an undisclosed amount. Before that, he played for Kaiserslautern. Ballack shone at the 2002 World Cup, in which he scored three goals, including the lone goals in the quarterfinal win over the United States and, famously, in the semifinal win over South Korea, just after picking up a third booking, which meant he would miss the Final. Without him, Germany lost two-nil against Brazil. Ballack also played at Euro 2000 and Euro 2004.
Ballack is known for being a versatile and well-conditioned player, equally at home in attack and defence, able to play in almost any position in the midfield. He made his name as an attacking midfielder with an eye for goal, but Bayern Munich have recently employed him in a deeper role, where he has been able to direct play. He is regarded as one of the most lethal headers in the world but is equally competent with his powerful left and right feet. These attributes have earned him the German player of the year award on three occasions (2002, 2003, 2005), a feat surpassed only by German legend Franz Beckenbauer, who won the award four times. Accordingly, many experts consider him the most complete footballer in the world today. As of 2005, he is one of the prime German sports icons and the captain of the German national team that is seeking World Cup glory on its home soil.
