Legendary goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert has alleged that Michael Ballack, former German international, was impossible to mark due to severe body odour issues. Germany defeated Paraguay with a goal in the 88th minute during the 2002 World Cup in South Korea.
In a TV interview with 'ESPN' he recalled that fellow team-mate Estanislao Struway had the tough job of marking the German midfielder.
''You couldn't get near Ballack because his BO was terrible, absolutely terrible. He should have used more deodorant or a lemon. Perhaps it was a strategy, who knows!'' he joked. Ballack was in the Chelsea squad from 2006 to 2010, during which time the 'Blues' won the FA Cup and League Cup. Scoring 17 goals in 105 appearances, Ballack was selected as one of FIFA's 125 Greatest Living Players by Pele.
Chilavert, was particularly famous for his fiery on-pitch behaviour. He had previously been sent off for fighting with Faustino Asprilla, a former Newcastle striker, and following an alleged racist comment by Roberto Carlos, he was filmed spitting in the Brazilian's face during a World Cup qualifier in 2001. Chilavert had 74 caps for Paraguay between 1989 and 2003. He went down in the history books as the only goalkeeper to have ever scored a hat-trick.