'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Michael Ballack – The Curse of the Runners-Up
Michael Ballack
If there was ever a player who accumulated more runners-up medals than winners’ medals, it was probably Michael Ballack. The Germany international is arguably the most unlucky player in football. A world renowned central midfielder who has won the German Footballer of the Year thrice, he has come second best with both club and country a number of times; be it the Bundesliga, the Premier League, the World Cup or the Euro Championship.
Trending
And the list does not stop there. Ballack has reached the Champions League final twice and lost on both occasions. The first time was with Bayer Leverkusen in 2002 when Raul and Zidane ensured Real Madrid would get a ninth Champions League trophy. The second time was with Chelsea in Moscow when Manchester United beat them in a penalty shootout. Ballack took Chelsea’s first penalty and converted it but Terry’s slip and Anelka’s miss meant he would go home empty handed yet again.
