Michael Ballack, 48, dating model, 23, who was his son's friend before tragic death
Legendary footballer Michael Ballack, 48, who played for Chelsea and Bayern Munich during his career, is now dating 23-year-old model Sophia Schneiderhan
by Matthew Cooper · The MirrorFormer Chelsea and Germany midfielder Michael Ballack is reportedly dating 23-year-old model Sophia Schneiderhan, who was friends with late son Emilio.
Ballack was left devastated after Emilio passed away in August 2021 after a tragic quad bike accident in Portugal. The 18-year-old lost control of the vehicle while driving it and was crushed.
Local police said at the time: "The accident happened at the family home. The quad rider wasn't on a public road and his was the only vehicle involved. The quad was on an uneven piece of land and at this stage it appears to have gone backwards and as it did fell on top of the victim and crushed him."
Ballack and Schneiderhan are said to have become close in the aftermath of the tragedy, with the pair becoming a couple after the 48-year-old ex-footballer split with French journalist Natacha Tannous.
Schneiderhan is a model and her father, Reihard, is a spinal surgeon who once owned three surfing schools in France. She has 126,000 followers on Instagram and regularly posts photos with Ballack, most recently sharing snaps from their holiday to Sylt.
"It is very surprising for me that he is now dating Sophia Schneiderhan, as she is 25 years younger," German football journalist Casten Germann told the Daily Mail. "It must be a terrible thing to lose your children – it must be the worst thing that can ever happen to a parent.
"My conclusion is that this relationship is born of very extreme circumstances. I am convinced this is a very difficult situation for everyone. Perhaps in extreme circumstances it brings people together and the most curious things possible can happen.
"Perhaps it is a case where you are searching for affection, where you are in a state of profound loss and are searching perhaps for something to hold on to. I don't know."
Ballack enjoyed a legendary playing career, winning three Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich and the Premier League with Chelsea. He also lost the 2008 Champions League final with Chelsea and fell short in the 2002 World Cup final and Euro 2008 final with Germany.
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