Born in Milan, Ballarini started his football career with Rovereto in 1956, where he played as midfielder.

In the 1957–58 season, he moved to Serie A club Hellas Verona, but did not play a single match during his time there.

In the 1958–59 season, he moved to Como, where then-coach Hugo Lamanna used him in a defensive role as a libero.

[1][2] At the end of his career Ballarini was player-coach of FC Chiasso in the 1971–1972 Swiss Challenge League season.

This biographical article related to association football in Italy, about a defender born in the 1930s, is a stub.