Germany's outstanding goalkeeper Oliver Kahn will need six weeks of treatment on a torn right hand ligament before he returns between the posts it was revealed here Saturday.

The 32-year-old Bayern Munich 'keeper, who was awarded the Golden Ball for the best player of the 2002 World Cup finals after conceding just one goal on the way to the final which they lost 2-0 to Brazil, is likely to miss the opening game of the Bundesliga season which starts on August 9.

"Kahn is going to have to be patient while his injury heals," said Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt, the German Football Federation's doctor.

"He will need around six weeks before he can fully use his hand," he added.

Kahn cut a distraught figure at the end of the final after his error had gifted Ronaldo the first of his two goals - but that did not stop FIFA plumping for him being the best player of football's showpiece event.