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 Michael Ballack
Germany | Midfielder Age: 29 Injury ruled Ballack out of Germany's opener against Costa Rica, but the Bayern Munich star has been crucial to the hosts' impressive progress since, with his authoritative display against Sweden in the second round setting the tone for his teammates. As the indisputed star of the German team, Ballack shouldered the burden of expectation coming into the tournament but has shown no sign of feeling the pressure. Ballack's influence on German football this decade has been huge. He was the driving force of the Bayer Leverkusen side that reached the 2002 Champions League final -- while his four seasons at Bayern have brought him three Bundesliga titles. A new challenge awaits at Chelsea next season, but in the meantime Ballack will be focused on winning one more medal on German soil. Four years ago, Ballack carried a distinctly ordinary German side all the way to the final, but a booking in the semifinal denied him the chance to play against Brazil. Tall and elegant, Ballack's accuracy with the ball, whether shooting or passing, makes him a dangerous presence anywhere near the penalty area. Should Germany defy expectations and continue their run all the way to the title, Ballack would earn a place alongside the likes of Franz Beckenbauer and Fritz Walter among his country's greatest World Cup stars. 
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