On August 5, 2026, the death of Emilio Ballack (2002-2021) will mark its fifth anniversary. The son of Simone Ballack (50) and her ex-husband, former national soccer player Michael Ballack (49), died in August 2021 at the age of 18 in a quad bike accident on the family estate in Portugal. The tragic loss continues to shape the family to this day - even though both parents now speak openly about how they have found their personal way of dealing with grief.
In recent years, Simone Ballack has repeatedly remembered her son publicly - on his birthday on September 19, on his death anniversary on August 5, or on Mother's Day. On the third anniversary of his death, she posted a series of pictures on Instagram from different stages of Emilio's life and wrote that she missed him "more than words could ever express". At the same time, she has made it clear on several occasions that she consciously wants to keep his name and the memories of him alive.
Dealing with the tragedy
While Simone Ballack regularly shares her memories publicly, former soccer professional Michael Ballack rarely speaks about it. In early 2026, however, he spoke unusually openly in the Sky format "My Story - The Life of Michael Ballack". He described dealing with his son's death as a "process of suppression". Anyone who experiences such a loss can hardly imagine how difficult it is to cope with. He finds support primarily in everyday life, in his family, his work, and his two other sons.
Simone Ballack also looked back at the accident earlier this year. She described how Emilio wanted to take a girl from the neighborhood home on a quad bike and the vehicle unfortunately overturned while maneuvering. At the same time, she contradicted earlier speculation about the cause of the accident and emphasized that her son had simply been very unlucky.
In addition to grief, Simone Ballack also reported changes in her social environment. Many contacts broke off after her son's death, while other people tried to give unsolicited advice. At the same time, she has learned to focus on her family and find her own way of dealing with the loss.
Return to Portugal
A few weeks before the fifth anniversary, Simone Ballack consciously traveled to Portugal for the first time. She described the country as "beautiful", but at the same time as "fateful". In an Instagram story, she wrote that after five years she wanted to make "peace" with this place. She added the hashtag "#healing" to the short stay, making it clear that grief remains an ongoing process even long after a loss.
Simone and Michael Ballack became a couple in 1998. After the birth of their three sons Louis (born 2001), Emilio, and Jordi (born 2005), the couple married on July 14, 2008. They divorced in 2012.
