Former German soccer star Michael Ballack’s 18-year-old son has been killed in a quad-bike crash while on vacation in Portugal, reports said.
Emilio Ballack was killed about 2 a.m. local time Thursday in Troia, south of the capital of Lisbon, near a house his dad — among the top goal scorers in the history of the German national team — bought several years ago, the UK’s Mirror reported, citing local media.
The teen posted sunset images at a Portuguese beach over the weekend as well as a photograph of the Comporta Beach Club, a trendy hangout near the site of the fatal crash, according to the report.
The Troia Peninsula, one of the most beautiful coastlines of Portugal, features an eight-mile stretch of sand, a casino and Roman ruins, among its many attractions.
Emilio’s accident happened near an apartment block known as Villas do Mar, the Mirror reported. Firefighters from nearby Gondola responded to the scene.
He was one of Ballack’s three children the former star shares with ex-wife Simone Lambe.
Emilio was born in 2002, a year after Ballack’s oldest son, Louis, and three years before his youngest, Jordi.
Michael Ballack, 44, who retired from professional soccer in 2012, is regarded as one of the greatest Germany internationals in history. He joined English club Chelsea in 2006 and won honors in his first season with the team, for which he played four years.
He won the Premier League and three FA Cups.
Ballack also played for Bayern Munich in Germany from 2002 to 2006 and scored 44 goals for the team. He spent the end of his career playing for Germany’s Bayer Leverkusen for two years.
Chelsea fans expressed their sympathy and support for the Ballack family.
“Huge thoughts & prayers out to @Ballack & his family during this extremely heartbreaking time … wish the best for your son and God bless him …Stay strong,” Chelsea News tweeted.
Chelsea blogger Simon Phillips said in a tweet: “Oh my, the devastating news about the passing of Michael Ballack’s son has just reached me. No words, so so sad and painful, thoughts to Michael and all his family and friends.”