Michael Ballack’s long-term girlfriend has offered an emotional tribute to his late son Emilio, labelling him a “teenager out of the ordinary”.
Emilio tragically passed away aged just 18 on Thursday, after a quad-bike accident near the family’s home in Portugal.
The Ballack family have yet to publicly comment but Natacha Tannous has posted a touching message to a person she was convinced would be successful at whatever he chose to do.
She wrote: "When I first met you, you were 12. You’ve been a teenager out of the ordinary…so empathetic, compassionate, smart, kind-hearted, clever, good at anything (golf, basketball, football).
"You had an incredible personality, that’s why you were always popular.
"You were so charming, you’d convince me to play verstecken 4 times/day, or the nicht lachen game, where I’d always lose to you.
"I am still laughing at stories from the expertise summer camp.
"You simply made everyone laugh and brought a smile to anyone's face.
"I have never in my life seen a teenager who would never fight, and always try to help people; you would always stand in the middle and act like a pacifier. You were incredible.
"Going through our WhatsApps, I have uncontrollable tears, at all these funny cherished moments; and even those maths exercises or humanities essays, because you wanted to be good at everything, you were so driven & always pushed yourself. Being average was out of the question for you.
You simply made everyone laugh and brought a smile on anyone’s face
"I was convinced you’d be successful at whatever you would endeavour.
"Which you have. Your entire life. But it was just too short. Stolen from you.
"There are no words to describe this tragedy. None. It is such a horrible nightmare that one wishes to wake up from.
"You were a ray of sunshine, and you left?! How is that even fair?
"The only consolation is that I feel so blessed that I have met you and I was lucky enough to have spent so much time with you, for nearly 5 years.
"But it makes it just as heartbreaking and devastating…
"In hindsight, should have allowed Nutella for breakfast, should have allowed to stay up playing video games before exams, should have allowed Haribos in the bedroom.
"Why try to be good when it now seems all so futile…
"You have lived your youth like an angel, and you left as one. I pray for you #Emilio.
"My thoughts are with your dad, Louis & Jordi, Oma & Opa and family on both Michael and Simone’s side in this extremely hard and inconsolable moment.
"There are no comforting words. And never will be.
"Emilio, you have touched each of us forever. You now have left an unhealable scar on everybody’s hearts. On mine eternally. "
Emilio’s passing came just months after he graduated from the Munich International School in Berg, with tributes pouring in from around the world.
