An inspirational figure, Ballack has yet to achieve success on the biggest of stages. After missing the 2002 World Cup final due to suspension and losing in the Euro 2008 final to Spain, as well as suffering Champions League final heartbreak in both of those years, the midfielder also missed out on Germany's 2010 World Cup with injury.

Beginning his career in the former East Germany with Chemnitz FC, then named Karl-Marx-Stadt FC, Ballack won a move to Kaiserslautern in 1997 and made 16 appearances as the club became the first promoted side to immediately win the Bundesliga title.

A move to Bayer Leverkusen soon followed in 1999, but Ballack knew only painful failure with his new club and they famously finished as runners-up in three competitions in 2002, most notably losing the Champions League final to a Zinedine Zidane-inspired Real Madrid in Glasgow. Ballack then joined Bayern Munich for £12.9 million and enjoyed sustained success in Bavaria, winning three domestic doubles as he cemented his status as one of Europe's most feared midfielders.

Arriving at Chelsea on a free transfer in the summer of 2006, he proved a key player under successive managers and collected winners' medals in the Premier League, FA Cup and Carling Cup, before deciding to return to Leverkusen in the summer of 2010.

Strengths: Ballack boasts admirable stamina and fitness levels to match his excellent use of the ball. A commanding presence in midfield, his range of passing and ability to dominate a game mark him out as a special player and he is also a goal threat when arriving late in the box.

Weaknesses: The goals have dried up for Ballack and his powers are undoubtedly on the wane. The suspicion remains that a quick and dynamic opponent could get the better of him, while his headstrong nature saw him fall out with Joachim Low in October 2008.

Career high: Winning a hat-trick of German Footballer of the Year titles (2002, 2003 and 2005) - more than such luminaries as Gerd Muller, Jurgen Klinsmann and Lothar Matthaus.

Career low: Missing the 2002 World Cup final due to suspension following an end to the season that saw Bayer Leverkusen agonisingly finish as runners up in the Bundesliga, German Cup and Champions League.

Style: Determined, accomplished, inspirational, an attacking midfielder of real pedigree.

Quotes: "Michael Ballack has a very important role. He has literally filled out his role of captain at the World Cup. He has great strength and we speak of him with the greatest respect." Jurgen Klinsmann, July 2006.

Trivia: Ballack became the first player to reach the Champions League quarter-finals with four separate clubs in 2007.