Michael Ballack is unquestionably one of the most successful German footballers of modern times. A former captain of the three time FIFA World Cup™ winners, with whom he won 98 caps, the midfielder also won a host honours at club level with, among others, Kaiserslautern, Bayern Munich and Chelsea.
The Gorlitz-born midfielder skippered his country to a runners-up spot at the FIFA World Cup 2002 Korea/Japan, as well as to third place on home soil four years later while, in his final major international tournament, he led his side to another second-placed finish, this time behind Spain at UEFA EURO 2008.
A three-time German Footballer of the Year and member of the 'FIFA 100' club (a list of Brazil legend Pele’s 125 greatest footballers, drawn up in 2004 to mark FIFA’s 100th anniversary), Ballack spoke to FIFA.com about his sparkling career, future plans, the current crop of German talent and Brazil 2014.