Michael Ballack and the adidas Predator

adidas Predator Absolute from 2006 in red and black with fold-over tongue and elastic strap — adidas Predator Absolute (2006) · Image: adidas Archive

Power, in Predators

If the Predator was built for power and swerve, Michael Ballack was built for the Predator. Germany’s captain was a box-to-box midfielder with a thunderous shot, a strong header and a presence few could match — and for most of his peak years, adidas’s Predator was on his feet.

Leverkusen, 2002

Ballack’s breakthrough came at Bayer Leverkusen, in the extraordinary 2001/02 season when they finished second in the Bundesliga, lost the German Cup final — and reached the Champions League final at Hampden, only to be beaten by Zidane’s volley. Custom Predator Precisions made for Ballack in that era, with his nickname on the tongue, still turn up among collectors.

2006: the Absolute, at home

The Predator Absolute was adidas’s boot for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, and there was no bigger home face than Ballack. He wore it as captain as Germany reached the semi-finals of their own tournament — one of the most-remembered Absolutes of all, and one adidas later recreated for its “Glitch” re-release of the boot.

Chelsea and the PowerSwerve

By the time the Predator PowerSwerve launched, Ballack had moved to Chelsea, and he was one of the players adidas named to wear it, alongside Beckham, Gerrard and Vieira. The PowerSwerve’s promise — more swerve, more power — could have been written for him.

Ballack’s Predators

Predator Precision (2000) — the Leverkusen years.
Predator Absolute (2006) — the home World Cup.
Predator PowerSwerve (2007) — Chelsea.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Predator did Ballack wear at the 2006 World Cup?

The Predator Absolute.

Did Ballack play against Zidane’s volley?

Yes — Ballack was in the Bayer Leverkusen side beaten by Real Madrid in the 2002 Champions League final.