Who is George Weah?
By Max Parsons
A footballing icon, a political powerhouse, an honourable humanitarian - George Weah has led an incredible life.
One of Africa's greatest footballing exports, the Liberian striker is one of the most celebrated players of all time, winning a host of titles over the course of a well-travelled career as well as picking up numerous individual honours - including the most prestigious of them all.
His son, Timothy, might be completing a feat that his father never managed as he's starring in a World Cup this year, but there's a hell of a journey to go if the USMNT international is to emulate his father. Who exactly is George Weah?
Who did George Weah play for?
Weah began his career in his native Liberia, becoming an unstoppable goal-merchant and Liberian champion with both Mighty Barrolle and Invincible Eleven - at the latter of which he bagged 24 goals in 23 league games - in 1986 and 1987 respectively.
Following a prolific spell with Cameroonian outfit Tonnerre Yaounde, he soon moved to the bright lights of European football, joining Arsene Wenger's Monaco in 1988. A four-year spell at the club saw him lift the Coupe de France in 1991, before joining Paris Saint-Germain ahead of the 1992/93 campaign, during which he excelled both domestically and in the UEFA Cup.
Weah's performances continued throughout his time in the French capital, as he won the Coupe de France for a second time that season, before lifting a Ligue 1 title in 1993/94 and a domestic Cup double the year after that.
His most decorated spell was yet to come, however. After finishing as the Champions League's top scorer in the 1994/95 season, Weah joined Italian giants Milan where he'd win two Serie A titles as well as football's top individual honour over the course of five years. His individual performances during Milan's title-winning 1995/96 campaign were particularly memorable, scoring 11 goals and assisting 14 in his 26 Serie A appearances that year.
By the end of his time with Milan, the Liberian legend's career was beginning to wind down and he was sent on loan to Chelsea in 2000, scoring 5 in 15 appearances at the club, The same year, he featured seven times in the Premier League for Manchester City before joining Marseille to wrap up his career in Europe.
After a more prolific spell with the French giants, Weah would eventually call time on his glittering footballing career in 2003 following a short time with UAE Pro League outfit Al Jazira, for whom he notched 13 times in eight league outings.
When did George Weah win the Ballon d'Or?
Weah became the first African and non-European footballer to ever claim the Ballon d'Or in 1995 - the year that the award was extended to players of all nationalities - while playing at Milan.
He remains the only African player to win the lucrative award and has won the continent's Player of the Year Award three times (in 1989, 1994 and 1995 respectively), also boasting a whopping four runner-up medals.
What has George Weah done since retiring from football?
Simply put, a hell of a lot.
Following the conclusion of the Second Liberian Civil War in 2003, Weah announced his intention to run in the 2005 presidential elections, forming the Congress for Democratic Change to back his candidacy.
He lost the election but, after remaining in Liberian Congress over the following 13 years (including as an unsuccessful vice-presidential candidate for the Congress of Democratic Change in 2011 and later as a successful Senator), Weah was elected Liberian President in 2018, with Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto'o attending his inauguration.
Weah is still in office, with the next election in Liberia set to take place next year.
George Weah net worth
An incredibly iconic footballing career as well as a successful political career has done Weah's finances no harm. While uncertain, his net worth is estimated to be between a staggering $30m and $90m.