Former Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack was a job to mark at the 2002 World Cup because of his bad body odour, legendary goalie Jose Luis Chilavert has claimed.
The Paraguayan shot-stopper had a TV studio in stitches after telling them the German international stank when the two sides met in the second round.
Germany ended the South American nation’s dreams of glory with an 88-minute goal.
Michael Ballack was tough to mark due to his body odour, claims keeper Jose Luis Chilavert
The former Paraguay stopper faced Ballack and Germany at the 2002 World Cup in Seoul
Eccentric Chilavert, nicknamed the Bulldog, recalled during an interview on sports TV channel ESPN that teammate Estanislao Struway had the job of marking Ballack.
He said: ‘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!’
Ballack, selected by Pele as one of FIFA’s 125 Greatest Living Players, scored 17 goals during his 105 appearances for Chelsea from 2006 to 2010.
He helped the Blues win the FA Cup and League Cup in his first season at the club.
Former Chelsea ace Ballack was chosen by Pele as one of FIFA’s 125 Greatest Living Players
Chilavert was known for his fiery temper and was sent off in 1997 for brawling with Colombian and former Newcastle United striker Faustino Asprilla.
He was filmed spitting in former Real Madrid defender Roberto Carlos’ face during a World Cup qualifier in August 2001 between Paraguay and Brazil.
He insisted afterwards the left-back had made racist comments and touched his private parts during the match to provoke him.
He repeated his earlier claims about racism during the ESPN interview, saying: ‘I spat at him when he told me, “Indian, we beat you 2-0.” That’s the reason I did it.’
Chilavert has made headlines since retiring for piling on the pounds after hanging up his boots, like Maradona, Brazil’s Ronaldo and former England winger John Barnes.
He appeared for the Paraguay national team 74 times from 1989 to 2003, scoring eight goals and representing his country at five major tournaments.
His 67 goals during his professional career make him the second-highest goalscoring goalkeeper of all time and he is the only keeper to score a hat-trick.
Ronaldo has been famously quoted as saying after he and David Beckham swapped shirts in the 2002 World Cup: ‘Normally when you swap shirts, especially after a game in the heat like that, they absolutely stink and are soaked in sweat.
‘So it was a surprise, to say the least, that Beckham’s shirt smelled only of perfume.’