The famous footballer found love in the model friend of his son, who passed away at the age of 18.

```html

The private life of famous German footballer Michael Ballack is back in the spotlight. Ballack, who played for major clubs like Chelsea and Bayern Munich, is in a relationship with model Sophia Schneiderhan, who is 25 years younger than him, and will turn 48 on September 26.

In 2021, Ballack lost his 18-year-old son Emilio in an ATV accident. It is reported that after this tragic event, Ballack grew closer to Sophia, who was a close friend of his son. The couple's relationship is viewed positively by those around them, and it is said that the age difference is not a problem for either of them.

25-year-old Sophia Schneiderhan is a model born in Munich but spent her childhood in France. Discovered at the age of 13, Sophia has been modeling professionally since she was 15. The model, who has worked with the famous German fashion brand Escada, has over 129,000 followers on Instagram.

The couple was last spotted vacationing on Sylt Island in the North Sea. A photo shared by Sophia on social media garnered great interest from her followers.

This relationship is said to have helped Ballack come out of the difficult period he experienced after his son's death. Those around him express that the former footballer appears happier.

Ballack and Schneiderhan generally prefer to keep details about their private lives secret. However, they occasionally share glimpses of their daily lives with their fans on social media.