Who is George Weah?

A footballing icon, a political powerhouse, an honourable humanitarian – George Weah has led an unimaginable life.

One of Africa’s best footballing exports, the Liberian striker is probably the most celebrated gamers of all time, successful a number of titles over the course of a well-travelled profession in addition to choosing up quite a few particular person honours – together with essentially the most prestigious of all of them.

His son, Timothy, is perhaps finishing a feat that his father by no means managed as he is starring in a World Cup this 12 months, however there is a hell of a journey to go if the USMNT worldwide is to emulate his father. Who precisely is George Weah?

Weah started his profession in his native Liberia, changing into an unstoppable goal-merchant and Liberian champion with each Mighty Barrolle and Invincible Eleven – on the latter of which he bagged 24 targets in 23 league video games – in 1986 and 1987 respectively.

Following a prolific spell with Cameroonian outfit Tonnerre Yaounde, he quickly moved to the brilliant lights of European soccer, becoming a member of Arsene Wenger’s Monaco in 1988. A four-year spell on the membership noticed him carry the Coupe de France in 1991, earlier than becoming a member of Paris Saint-Germain forward of the 1992/93 marketing campaign, throughout which he excelled each domestically and within the UEFA Cup.

Weah’s performances continued all through his time within the French capital, as he received the Coupe de France for a second time that season, earlier than lifting a Ligue 1 title in 1993/94 and a home Cup double the 12 months after that.

His most embellished spell was but to come back, nevertheless. After ending because the Champions League’s prime scorer within the 1994/95 season, Weah joined Italian giants Milan the place he’d win two Serie A titles in addition to soccer’s prime particular person honour over the course of 5 years. His particular person performances throughout Milan’s title-winning 1995/96 marketing campaign had been significantly memorable, scoring 11 targets and helping 14 in his 26 Serie A appearances that 12 months.

By the tip of his time with Milan, the Liberian legend’s profession was starting to wind down and he was despatched on mortgage to Chelsea in 2000, scoring 5 in 15 appearances on the membership, The identical 12 months, he featured seven instances within the Premier League for Manchester City earlier than becoming a member of Marseille to wrap up his profession in Europe.

After a extra prolific spell with the French giants, Weah would finally name time on his glittering footballing profession in 2003 following a short while with UAE Pro League outfit Al Jazira, for whom he notched 13 instances in eight league outings.

Weah turned the primary African and non-European footballer to ever declare the Ballon d’Or in 1995 – the 12 months that the award was prolonged to gamers of all nationalities – whereas taking part in at Milan.

He stays the one African participant to win the profitable award and has received the continent’s Player of the Year Award thrice (in 1989, 1994 and 1995 respectively), additionally boasting a whopping 4 runner-up medals.

Simply put, a hell of quite a bit.

Following the conclusion of the Second Liberian Civil War in 2003, Weah introduced his intention to run within the 2005 presidential elections, forming the Congress for Democratic Change to again his candidacy.

He misplaced the election however, after remaining in Liberian Congress over the next 13 years (together with as an unsuccessful vice-presidential candidate for the Congress of Democratic Change in 2011 and later as a profitable Senator), Weah was elected Liberian President in 2018, with Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto’o attending his inauguration.

Weah is nonetheless in workplace, with the following election in Liberia set to happen subsequent 12 months.

An extremely iconic footballing profession in addition to a profitable political profession has executed Weah’s funds no hurt. While unsure, his web price is estimated to be between a staggering $30m and $90m.