In the modern world of sports, there is rarely a sportsman who goes unnoticed. Amongst these sports, football stands out worldwide where Demi-Gods are created and worshipped and sometimes bought and sold at ridiculous prices. There is never a ''Star'' that goes unnoticed. However, over the past week, we saw (metaphorically speaking) the demise of a footballing icon which went painfully unnoticed. The man who I am hinting at is Michael Ballack whose international career came to a halt in a farewell match in which he never played !!
Michael Ballack began his international career in 99-00 as a German prodigy which later on blossomed to one of the greatest careers in his country's history. I am a self professed Ballack since the first day I saw him thrash Saudi Arabia in the 2002 World Cup. There is a reason why I call his a career unfulfilled and I will bring it to your notice soon.
Ballack transitioned from a prodigy to a star in the 2002 World Cup by being one of the outstanding performers in a team of also rans. At the age of 25 the man carried his team through the competition by scoring in the quarter finals and semis only to be handed a harsh yellow card which resulted in him missing the Finals (unfortunate incident number 1) which Brazil won eventually. Would the result have been different if he had played ? I dont know but also I dont care !!
It was for this man and this man only that I started following club football. They never showed Bundesliga (German League) on TV. But that never stopped me from following a great career. They say you need to have a role model in life in whatever you do. I think Ballack was my role model in football, he initiated me into the obssession called club football and I'm a crazy fan since.
Its the feeling of seeing your role model just fade away without the accolades he deserved which sends a gut wrenching pain through your heart. From being a club captain who took Bayern Munich to everything they could win domestically to becoming a captain without an armband at Chelsea to coming a penalty kick away from winning a Champions League (unfortunate incident number 2), Ballack gave me all the joys and tears I could have asked for from a role model.
The career went on and injuries and records fell by the way and then came the most painful phase atleast from a fans point of view. He lost out on a World Cup in his homecountry when Italy cruelly scored a winner in the dying moments. Then his team was outclassed by Spain in Euro 2008 finals. Then came the 2010 World Cup which was meant to be his final hurrah but even that dream was shattered before it materialised when he was injured cruelly before the tournament to be ruled out it.
Since then, my hero's star has dwindled with no silver lining visible on the horizon. Nothing pains me more than seeing him on the sidelines just waiting to get an opportunity. Then as is the story of our times, the German coach and Federation organised a farewell match for him which would also be his 100th for his nation. But being the kind of man that he is, he turned down that offer and in a cruel way he made sure that his last match would say the story of his career by missing out on an opportunity to glory cap by sitting out his own farewell match.
Ballack still feels he can give loads to his country as a footballer. Although I would like to agree with him, I dont think I will ever have the strength to be able to watch a limping Ballack again on the field.
The sun has set on his international career and within no time it will also set on his non-existent club career too. But as it is with all great players , you just know they will make a comeback. I look forward to seeing Michael Ballack return as a manager someday and get his hands on every trophy that he missed. Until then.....
Farewell Ballack !!! Nobody made that no.13 more famous!!
''Form is temporary , class is permanent !!''
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