Michael Ballack: 48y/o Chelsea legend begins romance with hot model who was close friend of his late teenage son

Former Chelsea and Bayern Munich midfielder Michael Ballack is making headlines once again.

Following the tragic loss of his son, Emilio, Ballack has now sparked controversy of his relationship life.

The former Germany international who recently turned 48, has been in a relationship with a 23-year-old model named Sophia Schneiderhan.

Sophia was known to have had a close friendship with Ballack’s late son Emilio.

However, she has now emerged as a source of comfort for the grieving father, helping him navigate the difficult aftermath of his son’s untimely death in a quad bike accident last year.

According to reports, news of Ballack and Schneiderhan’s bond first emerged in January this year after the model uploaded a photo with the footballer on her Instagram page, and the pair are understood to have grown from friendship into a romantic relationship.

Recently, Sophia shared a heartfelt photo of the couple on social media while vacationing in Sylt, capturing a moment of tenderness between her and the Stamford Bridge hero.

Friends close to Ballack have noted that the couple’s 25-year age difference has not hindered their connection — instead, it appears to have fostered a positive environment for healing and companionship.

Sophia Schneiderhan is a Munich-born model.

The German beauty has carved out a successful career in modelling since being scouted at just 13 years old.

According to several reports, her early start in the industry was marked by campaigns for high-profile brands like Escada.

Sophia is also said to be fluent in French and well-educated.

She currently boasts over 126,000 followers on her Instagram page, where she actively shares glimpses of her life with Ballack.