George Weah’s Journey from FIFA World Player to President

How many people in history can boast about a wild transition from sports to politics, and conquering both worlds? The answer is ‘not many,’ but Liberian football icon George Weah did just that.

George Weah’s historic journey from FIFA World Player of the Year to becoming the 25th President of Liberia is one of the most remarkable stories you will ever hear.

In this article, Sportblot discusses George Weah’s story, highlighting his elite goals, football and political achievements, and real-world difficulties in West Africa. Hold on tight if you are interested in learning about one of Africa’s most remarkable players.

George Weah’s Humble Beginnings in Liberia

George Weah during his time at AS Monaco

On October 1, 1966, George Tawlon Manneh Oppong Ousman Weah was born in Clara Town, Liberia, a slum in Monrovia. Weah is a native of the southeastern part of Liberia, the Kru ethnic group. 

He was raised by his grandmother, and his early years were characterised by a lack of opportunities and poverty. George Weah’s potential soon became visible, as is the case with many footballers from lowly origins.

He kicked off his career as a teenager, playing in the dirty streets barefoot due to his deep love for the game.

Career Highlights and Achievements

George Weah captured with his Ballon d’Or award in 1995

George Weah’s football career took off when he joined Young Survivors at a very young age of 15 in 1981 and later joined Mighty Barolle in Liberia before establishing himself at Tonnerre Yaoundé in Cameroon.

He soon caught the attention of scouts, and in 1988, under the guidance of a renowned manager, Arsène Wenger, he landed in Europe with French Division 1 club AS Monaco. He was signed for a transfer fee of £12,000.

George Weah won the African Footballer of the Year for the first time in 1989 during his time with Monaco. It was his first-ever major award. 

He went on to play for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), dominating the French Ligue, winning Ligue 1 and scoring significant goals in the UEFA competitions. In 1994, he won his second African Footballer of the Year award.

Weah joined AC Milan in 1995 and won the Italian league the following year and again in 1999. His move to AC Milan solidified his global status, as he went on to win the Ballon d’Or, becoming the first and only African to have won the award to date.

George Weah is also the only African to be named the FIFA World Player of the Year, a win he dedicated to his former manager, Arsène Wenger. In the same year of 1995, Weah won his third African Player of the Year award.

The superstar’s venture extended to the English Premier League when he joined Chelsea on loan from AC Milan on January 11, 2000. On his debut, he scored the winning goal against rivals, Tottenham Hotspur, proving that even though he was past his prime, he was still an excellent player. Watch the goal.

He helped Chelsea to clinch the FA Cup in 1999/2000. George Weah ultimately retired from football in 2003 at the age of 37 after playing with Marseille and Al Jazira.

George Weah also had an incredible international career, representing Liberia in the African Cup of Nations. He played a total of 75 games since his debut for the Liberian national team against Burkina Faso, scoring 18 goals.

George Weah’s Transition to Politics

Following his retirement from the world of football, George Weah believed he could aid in the reconstruction of Liberia, which had recently emerged from a brutal civil war.

The first time he declared his interest in becoming the President of Liberia was in 2005, but he ultimately lost to his Harvard-educated opponent, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

The first issue Weah encountered in his political pursuit was questions arising over his French citizenship during his footballing career at Paris Saint-Germain, but these complaints were overruled by the electoral commission in court, and he was given the go-ahead.

The second issue was George Weah’s lack of formal education. Defying all odds, he returned to school and graduated from DeVry University with a bachelor's degree in business administration and from Keller Graduate School with a master's degree in management.

In 2014, he succeeded in becoming the Liberian Senate via elections, defeating Robert Sirleaf, the son of the President. He became the first Liberian International athlete elected to represent a county in the legislature.

George Weah announced his intention to run for President of Liberia in April 2016 and won after the elections in 2017 with the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), winning a run-off against the vice president, Joseph Boakai, with over 60% of the vote to become the 25th president.

Presidency and Public Reception

George Weah took office in January 2018 with many people thinking that his modest upbringing would keep him grounded and that his exposure to other countries would bring new insights to governance. 

He achieved Infrastructure development: Road construction and electrification projects, free tuition for public universities, and investment in sports and youth empowerment.

His reign wasn’t without challenges, like economic downturn and rising inflation, criticism over governance and transparency and questions around press freedom and civil liberties.

However, he had a pretty good run until 2024 when he lost his re-election to Joseph Boakai.

Legacy: Football Icon, Political Figure

George Weah’s path is legendary, whether you respect him as the unstoppable striker in Milan or the leader in Monrovia’s Executive Mansion.

His story demonstrates that you can conquer the world if you have talent, perseverance, and a little bit of courage.