:George Weah

George Manneh Oppong Weah{{cite web |url=https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/liberias-presidential-runoff |title=Liberia's Presidential Runoff |first=Esther |last=Pan |publisher=Council on Foreign Relations |date=7 November 2005 |access-date=4 November 2023}} was born on 1 October 1966{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/fifa/pub/magazine/fm2-96.2.html |title=FIFA Magazine – An idol for African footballers |access-date=6 December 2006 |publisher=FIFA |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060719025546/http://www.fifa.com/fifa/pub/magazine/fm2-96.2.html |archive-date=19 July 2006}} in Monrovia, the capital city of Liberia, and was raised in Clara Town, a slum in the city. He is a member of the Kru ethnic group, which hails from south-eastern part of Liberia, one of the poorest areas of the country.{{cite book |first=Okyere |last=Bonna |title=Africa's Football Legends |date=2009 |publisher=Xlibris Corporation |isbn=978-1-4415-7657-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bq_kqmnR8_kC&q=george+t+weah+sr&pg=PT14}}{{Self-published inline|certain=yes|date=January 2018}} His father, William T. Weah Sr.,{{cite web |title=Arsene Wenger wrongly celebrates George Weah's election win |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/10/arsene-wenger-wrongly-celebrates-george-weahs-election-win/ |work=Vanguard |date=12 October 2017}} was a mechanic while his mother, Anna Quaye Weah (d. 2013),{{cite web |title=George Weah's Mother Dies in Ghana |url=http://www.liberiaentertainment.com/2013/03/07/george-weahs-mother-dies-in-ghana/ |publisher=Liberia Entertainment |date=7 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021011816/http://www.liberiaentertainment.com/2013/03/07/george-weahs-mother-dies-in-ghana/ |archive-date=21 October 2017}} was a merchant. He has three brothers, William, Moses, and Wolo. He was one of thirteen children largely raised by his devoutly Christian paternal grandmother, Emma Klonjlaleh Brown after his parents separated when Weah was still a baby.{{cite encyclopedia |title=Weah, George |url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/weah-george |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia.com}} He attended middle school at Muslim Congress and high school at Wells Hairston High School and reportedly dropped out in his final year of studies.{{cite web |first=Collins |last=Okinyo |title=President-Elect George Oppong Weah, from top footballer to Liberia Presidency |url=http://www.soka25east.com/president-elect-george-oppong-weahfrom-top-footballer-liberia-presidency/ |publisher=Soka25East |date=29 December 2017}}

Weah began to play football for Young Survivors, a club based in Clara Town, in 1981 at the age of 15.{{cite news |url=https://chimurengachronic.co.za/a-secret-history-of-mr-george-weah/ |title=A Secret History of Mr. George Weah |first=Kangsen |last=Wakai |website=Chimurenga |date=23 January 2018 |access-date=5 November 2023}} Jason Burke, writing for The Observer, described how Weah scored "two spectacular goals" on his debut, "one hit from such a tight angle that it went in-off having struck both posts".{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/aug/06/newsstory.sport15 |title=In the court of King George |first=Jason |last=Burke |newspaper=The Observer |location=London |date=6 August 2000 |access-date=5 November 2023}} In his three years with Young Survivors, the club earned two promotions, from the fourth level of football in Liberia to the second. He signed for Liberian Premier League club Bong Range United in 1984, where he played for one season, before joining Mighty Barrolle, one of the biggest clubs in Liberia. Weah was not a regular starter for Mighty Barrolle despite scoring regularly, which prompted a move to their rivals, Invincible Eleven, in 1986. He helped the club win the 1987 Liberian Premier League title,{{cite news |url=https://www.theindependent.com.lr/2023/03/28/us100000-bonus-for-lone-star-if/ |title=US$100,000 Bonus For Lone Star, If... |first=Varney |last=Dukuly |website=The Independent |date=28 March 2023 |access-date=5 November 2023}} was the league's top scorer, and was named as the league's player of the season.{{cite news |url=https://www.dw.com/en/remembering-george-weahs-early-football-days/a-42201293 |title=Remembering George Weah's early football days |first=Moki |last=Kindzeka |publisher=Deutsche Welle |date=20 January 2018 |access-date=5 November 2023}} Before his football career allowed him to move abroad, Weah worked for the Liberia Telecommunications Corporation as a switchboard operator. He signed for Cameroonian Premier League club Tonnerre Yaoundé in 1987 after impressing during a match against them, and scored twice on his debut against Canon Yaoundé.

File:Coppa UEFA 1992-93 - Napoli vs PSG - George Weah.jpg and Napoli in the second round of 1992–93 UEFA Cup]]

Weah's abilities were noticed by the Cameroon national team manager, Claude Le Roy, who recommended him to Arsène Wenger, the manager of French Division 1 club Monaco.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-45257301 |title=Arsène Wenger to get honour from Liberia's George Weah |website=BBC News |date=21 August 2018 |access-date=5 November 2023}} Weah signed for Monaco 1988 for a transfer fee of £12,000,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/1434214.stm |title=George Weah in focus |website=BBC Sport |date=25 July 2001 |access-date=5 November 2023}} after Wenger had flown to Africa prior to the signing to see him play.{{cite book |first=Kenneth |last=Nkemnacho |title=Be An Icon: Discover how ordinary people became extraordinary |date=2016 |publisher=eBook Versions |isbn=978-1-84396-385-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DhkvDwAAQBAJ&q=george+weah+born+1958&pg=PT15}} Weah has credited Wenger as an important influence on his career.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml?html=/archive/2000/01/22/sfnwin22.html |title=On The Spot: George Weah |work=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=9 December 2006 |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014032208/http://telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml?html=%2Farchive%2F2000%2F01%2F22%2Fsfnwin22.html |archive-date=14 October 2007 |url-status=dead}} During his time with Monaco, Weah was named the African Footballer of the Year for the first time in 1989. This was his first major award and he took it back home for the entire country to celebrate. Weah won the 1990–91 Coupe de France, playing in the final on 8 June in which Monaco beat Marseille 1–0 at the Parc des Princes.{{cite web |url=https://www.asmonaco.com/histoire/palmares1/1991-coupe-de-france/ |title=Coupe de France 1991: La revanche contre l'OM |trans-title=Coupe de France 1991: Revenge against OM |publisher=AS Monaco FC |date=25 November 2019 |access-date=5 November 2023 |language=fr}} He helped Monaco reach the final of the 1991–92 European Cup Winners' Cup, scoring four goals in nine cup appearances.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}}

Weah subsequently played for Paris Saint-Germain (1992–1995), with whom he won the Coupe de France in 1993 and 1995, Division 1 in 1994, and the Coupe de la Ligue in 1995 during a highly prolific and successful period; he also became the top scorer of the 1994–95 UEFA Champions League, with seven goals, after reaching the semi-finals with the club, one of which was a skillful individual "wonder-goal" against Bayern Munich in the group stage, on 23 November 1994.{{cite web |url=http://www.uefa.com/60-years/videoid=2114867.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141215130905/http://www.uefa.com/60-years/videoid=2114867.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 December 2014 |title=UEFA 60 Great goals: Weah |publisher=UEFA |access-date=15 December 2014}} During his time at the club, he also managed to reach the semi-finals of the 1992–93 UEFA Cup, and the semi-finals of the 1993–94 European Cup Winners' Cup; in total, he scored 16 goals in 25 European games. In 1994, he won the African Footballer of the Year Award for the second time in his career.

Weah joined AC Milan in 1995, winning the Italian league in 1996 under Fabio Capello. He played alongside Roberto Baggio and Dejan Savićević in Milan's attack, as well as Marco Simone on occasion, and finished the season as Milan's top goalscorer. He won the Serie A title once again in 1999. During his time with the club, he also reached the 1998 Coppa Italia final, and finished as runner-up in the Supercoppa Italiana on two occasions, in 1996 and 1999. {{citation needed|date=November 2023}} Despite their European dominance in the early 1990s, Milan was less successful in Europe during this time, however, with their best result being a quarter-final finish in the 1995–96 UEFA Cup. {{citation needed|date=November 2023}}

Exhibiting skill, athleticism and goalscoring prowess, Weah became famous at Milan for scoring several notable goals, in particular a solo goal against Hellas Verona at the San Siro which saw him deftly control the ball from Verona's corner kick just outside his penalty area, before he set off. With all his teammates back defending the corner Weah made a beeline for goal, leaving his teammates in his wake. His teammate Zvonimir Boban stated, "It was an incredible run. We were thinking, 'When's he going to stop? When's he going to stop? He's not going to stop! He's never going to stop!'".{{cite news |title=The Joy of Six: Goals from corners |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2011/jun/17/joy-of-six-goals-corner-kicks |access-date=16 October 2018 |newspaper=The Guardian}} Weah finished by rifling the ball into the bottom left corner before an exuberant goal celebration.{{cite news |title=A forensic analysis of George Weah's wonderful solo goal against Verona |url=https://www.planetfootball.com/nostalgia/forensic-analysis-george-weahs-solo-goal-verona-21-years/ |access-date=16 October 2018 |agency=Planetfootball.com.}}

Due to his performances with both Paris Saint-Germain and Milan, in 1995 Weah was the recipient of several individual awards: he won the Ballon d'Or, the Onze d'Or, and was named FIFA World Player of the Year, becoming the first and, currently, only African player (by FIFA nationality) to win these awards, and second African-born player to do so after Eusébio. Weah dedicated his FIFA World Player of the Year victory to his former manager, Arsène Wenger, stating that it was thanks to him that he was able to develop into a world-class player.{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/world-match-centre/news/newsid/274/782/7/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310024357/http://www.fifa.com/world-match-centre/news/newsid/274/782/7/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 March 2016 |title=Weah: Ballon d'Or put me and Liberia on the map |publisher=FIFA |date=27 December 2015 |access-date=9 March 2016}} That year, Weah also won the African Player of the Year Award for the third time in his career, and was named to the Onze de Onze by the French football magazine Onze Mondial. In 1996, Weah finished second in the FIFA World Player of the Year ranking; he was also the recipient of the FIFA Fair Play Award, and was voted the African Player of the Century by sport journalists from around the world.

On 20 November 1996, after Milan's Champions League draw at Porto, Weah broke the nose of Portuguese defender Jorge Costa in the players' tunnel, resulting in a six-match European ban. Weah said he exploded in frustration after putting up with racist tauntings from Costa during both of the team's Champions League matches that autumn. UEFA did not charge Costa because no witnesses, including his Milan teammates, could verify Weah's allegations. Costa strenuously denied the accusations of racism and was not charged by UEFA as no witnesses could verify Weah's allegations, not even his Milan teammates. Weah later attempted to apologise to Costa but this was rebuffed by the Portuguese, who considered the charges of racist insults levelled against him to be defamatory and took Weah to court.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/1194989.stm |title=Court postpones Weah trial |website=BBC Sport |date=28 February 2001 |access-date=28 February 2001 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020910103217/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/1194989.stm |archive-date=10 September 2002}} The incident led to Costa undergoing facial surgery and he was subsequently sidelined for three weeks. Despite the incident, Weah still received the FIFA Fair Play Award in 1996.{{cite web |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/1996/12/18/weah.t_0.php |title=Weah's Ban Puts Soccer's Fairness Rule on the Line |access-date=19 June 2008 |work=International Herald Tribune}}{{dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}

Weah signed for English Premier League club Chelsea on loan from Milan on 11 January 2000, in a deal which would keep him with the West London club until the end of the 1999–2000 season.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/600616.stm |website=BBC Sport |title=Weah cleared for debut |date=12 January 2000}} Although past his prime, Weah's time in England was deemed a success, especially at Chelsea where he instantly endeared himself to their fans by scoring the winner against rivals Tottenham Hotspur on his debut,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/601186.stm |title=Winner for Weah on debut |website=BBC Sport |date=12 January 2000 |access-date=5 November 2009}} and scored further league goals against Wimbledon{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/feb/13/match.sport7 |title=Olsen's flying circus on downward spiral |newspaper=The Guardian |date=12 February 2000 |access-date=5 November 2009 |first=Ian |last=Ridley}} and Liverpool.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/730395.stm |title=Weah gives Liverpool the Blues |website=BBC Sport |date=29 April 2000 |access-date=5 November 2009}} He also scored twice in Chelsea's victorious 1999–2000 FA Cup netting crucial goals against Leicester City{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/jan/30/match.facup |title=Blues see red and yellow |newspaper=The Guardian |date=30 January 2000 |access-date=5 November 2009 |first=Jon |last=Brodkin}} and Gillingham.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/feb/21/match.sport3 |title=Chelsea bring Gills down to earth |newspaper=The Guardian |date=20 February 2000 |access-date=5 November 2009 |first=Martin |last=Thorpe}} This led to him starting in the final, which Chelsea won 1–0.{{cite news |first=Colin |last=Malam |title=Chelsea 1 Aston Villa 0 |url=http://www.fa-cupfinals.co.uk/2000.htm |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=21 May 2000 |access-date=10 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024025807/http://www.fa-cupfinals.co.uk/2000.htm |archive-date=24 October 2007}}

Chelsea manager Gianluca Vialli did not make Weah's move permanent, and, on 1 August 2000, he officially left Milan, and signed for newly promoted Premier League side Manchester City on a free transfer on a two-year contract worth £30,000 a week,{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/weah-joins-royles-revolution-696459.html |work=The Independent |first=Tim |last=Rich |title=Weah joins Royle's revolution |date=2 August 2000}} declining the offer of a £1 million pay-off from Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/887070.stm |website=BBC Sport |title=Weah snubs golden handshake |date=19 August 2000}} He played 11 games in all competitions for City, scoring four times, before leaving on 16 October 2000 after becoming dissatisfied with manager Joe Royle for selecting him as a substitute too frequently; he had only played the full 90 minutes in three of his 11 games for the Maine Road club.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/weahs-blue-moon-affair-lasts-11-games-637405.html |work=The Independent |first=Alan |last=Nixon |title=Weah's blue moon affair lasts 11 games |date=17 October 2000}} At City, he scored once in the league against Liverpool (as he did at Chelsea),{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/916469.stm |title=Hamann double sees off City |website=BBC Sport |date=9 September 2000 |access-date=5 November 2009}} and three times against Gillingham (again as he had at Chelsea), this time in the League Cup; once in the first leg{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/worthington_cup/932316.stm |title=Manchester City 1–1 Gillingham |website=BBC Sport |date=20 September 2000 |access-date=5 November 2009}} and twice in the second.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/worthington_cup/941789.stm |title=Gillingham 2–4 Man City (agg: 3–5) |website=BBC Sport |date=26 September 2000 |access-date=5 November 2009}}

Following his time in England, Weah returned to France and had a spell at Marseille, where he remained until May 2001. He later played with Al Jazira in the UAE Football League, where he remained until his retirement as a player in 2003, at age 37. He had planned on joining the New York/New Jersey MetroStars of Major League Soccer but elected to join Al Jazira temporarily.{{cite news |last=Yannis |first=Alex |date=7 September 2001 |title=Weah's Moves Wow MetroStars |page=B7 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/07/sports/plus-soccer-weah-s-moves-wow-metrostars.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=10 February 2019}}

Since making his debut for the Liberia national team against Burkina Faso on 23 February 1986, Weah played 75 games, scoring 18 goals. Representing one of the smaller nations in world football and perennial underdogs, Weah did much to support the national squad: aside from being the team's star player, he also later coached the squad and even funded his national side to a large extent. Despite his efforts, he was unsuccessful in helping Liberia qualify for a single FIFA World Cup, falling just a point short in qualifying for the 2002 tournament. However, he did help Liberia to qualify for the African Cup of Nations on two occasions: Weah represented his country in the 1996 and 2002 editions of the tournament, although Liberia failed to make it out of their group both times, suffering first-round eliminations.

Weah has been named by several media outlets as one of the best players to never play at the World Cup.{{cite news |last1=Baxter |first1=Kevin |title=World Cup: Best players never to play in it or never to win a title |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-world-cup-lists-20140518-story.html |access-date=10 April 2018 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=17 May 2014}}{{cite news |last1=Murray |first1=Scott |title=The Joy of Six: football greats who never made the World Cup |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/nov/22/joy-of-six-football-greats-world-cup |access-date=10 April 2018 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=22 November 2013}}{{cite news |last1=Sarahs |first1=Paul |title=Russia 2018: The best players never to feature at the FIFA World Cup |url=https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/russia-2018-best-players-never-feature-fifa-world-cup-144544791.html |access-date=10 April 2018 |publisher=Yahoo! News |date=10 October 2017}}

{{blockquote|One of the greatest African players of all time, George Weah was, like his namesake George Best before him, hamstrung in World Cup terms by hailing from a global minnow.|Scott Murray writing for The Guardian on Weah's "stand-alone effort" to get his nation to a World Cup.}}

Weah returned to the national team for a specially arranged friendly against Nigeria on 11 September 2018, his final international appearance, playing at the age of 51 while in office as the country's president. His number 14 shirt, worn at his playing peak, was retired after the friendly, with Weah receiving a standing ovation when he was substituted.{{cite news |date=11 September 2018 |title=George Weah: Former World Player of the Year plays for Liberia, aged 51 |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/45490570 |website=BBC Sport |access-date=11 September 2018}}

During his prime in the 1990s, Weah was regarded as one of the best strikers in the world. He was lauded for his speed, work rate, stamina, and attacking instincts, as well as his physical and athletic attributes, which he combined with his finishing, technical ability, and creativity.{{Cite book |publisher=Bantam Books |isbn=978-0-553-82566-4 |last=Marcotti |first=Gabriele |title=Capello: The Man Behind England's World Cup Dream |date=2008 |page=[https://archive.org/details/capellomanbehind0000marc/page/193 193] |url=https://archive.org/details/capellomanbehind0000marc/page/193}} A fast, powerful, physically strong player, with an eye for goal, many observers agree that he successfully filled the void left in the Milan attack by club great Marco van Basten.{{cite web |title=Iconic Weah a true great |url=https://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/players/player=2187/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020073045/http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/players/player=2187/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 October 2013 |publisher=FIFA |access-date=13 December 2014}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/apr/09/facup.sport |title=The wonder of Weah |first=Amy |last=Lawrence |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=9 April 2000 |access-date=5 November 2023}}{{cite web |title=George Weah |url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/638186/George-Weah |website=Encyclopædia Britannica |access-date=13 December 2014}} In addition to his pace, acceleration, dribbling skills, and goalscoring ability, as a multi-functional forward Weah was also a team player who was capable of creating chances and assisting goals for teammates.{{cite web |url=http://www.magliarossonera.it/protagonisti/Gioc-Weah.html |title=George Manneh Oppong Ousman Weah |work=Magliarossonera |language=it |access-date=23 October 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://www.maidirecalcio.com/2012/09/13/quanto-era-forte-george-weah.html |title=Quanto era forte George Weah... |work=Mai Dire Calcio |language=it |date=13 September 2012 |access-date=23 October 2015 |archive-date=6 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106104134/http://www.maidirecalcio.com/2012/09/13/quanto-era-forte-george-weah.html |url-status=dead}}

Along with Ronaldo and Romário, Weah was viewed as a modern, new style of striker in the 1990s who would also operate outside the penalty area and run with the ball towards goal, at a time when strikers primarily operated inside the penalty area where they would receive the ball from teammates.{{cite web |title=Ronaldo, Klose: Different to the finish |url=http://www.espnfc.com/blog/world-cup-central/59/post/1915680/comparing-brazil-striker-ronaldo-and-germany-forward-miroslav-klose-world-cup-goalscorer-records |publisher=ESPN |access-date=13 December 2014}}[http://www.in.com/news/sports/ronaldo-romario-reinvented-strikers-role-says-thierry-henry-53023207-in-1.html "Ronaldo, Romario Reinvented Striker's Role, Says Thierry Henry"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306153503/http://www.in.com/news/sports/ronaldo-romario-reinvented-strikers-role-says-thierry-henry-53023207-in-1.html |date=6 March 2016 }}. In Sports. Retrieved 16 January 2015 Among the next generation of strikers who were inspired, Thierry Henry states, "George Weah, Romário, and Ronaldo changed the game for me. It was the first time as a striker I saw players that could score on their own. Pick the ball up anywhere and score. Before as a number nine, people would say ' Stay within the line of the box, don't move too much, don't go to the wings, don't drop, stay.' Then I saw George Weah. And then I saw Ronaldo. And I saw Romário differently before those two. And it was like 'hang on a minute, someone has lied to me'."{{cite news |title=Thierry Henry names 3 players that 'changed the game' for him |url=https://tribuna.com/en/arsenal/news/2020-04-04-thierry-henry-names-3-players-that-changed-the-game-for-him/ |access-date=14 November 2020 |newspaper=Tribuna}}{{dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

One such goal that exemplified this ability was against Verona in 1995 where he received the ball in the edge of his penalty box and ran the length of the field. Scoring such a goal in Serie A – the best defensive league in the world – saw media outlets such as Gazzetta dello Sport running pages of analysis for days afterward, and calling it the greatest strike of all in Italian football. On his impact on the sport, Weah states, "When I look at my idols – Pelé, Maradona, Beckenbauer, Cruyff – they did a lot of great things. I came into the game and made history too."

Named African Footballer of the Year three times and the first African to win the Ballon d'Or and be named FIFA World Player of the Year, Weah's prominence in the 1990s led him to be nicknamed "King George". 90min included him in their list of the 50 greatest players of all time.{{cite news |date=13 May 2019 |title=The 50 greatest footballers of all time |publisher=90min |url=https://www.90min.com/posts/50-greatest-footballers-all-time-ranked |access-date=26 April 2023}} Weah is often hailed as one of the greatest African footballers of all time,{{cite news |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.za/2018/01/23/from-football-king-to-liberian-president-george-weahs-journey_a_23340918/ |title=From Football King To Liberian President – George Weah's Journey |work=HuffPost |first=Nkosinathi |last=Shazi |date=23 January 2018 |access-date=3 October 2018 |archive-date=16 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116174121/https://www.huffingtonpost.co.za/2018/01/23/from-football-king-to-liberian-president-george-weahs-journey_a_23340918/ |url-status=dead}} being named African Player of the Century in 1996, and often ranked among the three greatest African strikers ever, alongside Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto'o.{{cite news |title=Top 10 Greatest African Strikers |url=http://www.joburgpost.co.za/2017/06/06/top-10-greatest-african-strikers/ |access-date=27 August 2018 |work=Johannesburg Post |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220025546/http://www.joburgpost.co.za/2017/06/06/top-10-greatest-african-strikers/ |archive-date=20 February 2019 |url-status=dead}}{{cite news |title=Where Didier Drogba Ranks Alongside Africa's 20 Best Strikers |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1973969-where-didier-drogba-ranks-alongside-africas-20-best-strikers#slide16 |access-date=27 August 2018 |work=Bleacher Report}} In 2013, Milan great Franco Baresi named Weah in the greatest XI he has ever played with.[http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/21564/8990658/italian-franco-baresi-picks-one2eleven-on-the-fantasy-football-club "Italian Franco Baresi picks One2Eleven on the Fantasy Football Club"]. Sky Sports. Retrieved 16 January 2015 FourFourTwo magazine named Weah one of the best players never to win the UEFA Champions League.{{cite news |title=The 25 best players never to win the Champions League. No. 19 Weah |website=FourFourTwo |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/gallery/20-best-players-never-win-champions-league |url-status=deviated |access-date=28 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108210928/https://www.fourfourtwo.com/gallery/20-best-players-never-win-champions-league |archive-date=8 November 2018}} A number of publications, including Scott Murray of The Guardian and Kevin Baxter of the Los Angeles Times, in addition to FIFA, consider him to be one of the greatest players never to feature at the World Cup.{{cite news |title=Weah: Ballon d'Or put me and Liberia on the map |url=https://www.fifa.com/fifaeworldcup/news/y=2015/m=12/news=weah-ballon-d-or-put-me-and-liberia-on-the-map-2747827.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623005101/https://www.fifa.com/fifaeworldcup/news/y=2015/m=12/news=weah-ballon-d-or-put-me-and-liberia-on-the-map-2747827.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 June 2018 |publisher=FIFA |date=22 June 2018 |quote=Whenever football fans name the best players never to have played at the World Cup finals, Weah is one of the first to be mentioned.}}

The status of Weah in the sport saw him feature in EA Sports' FIFA video game series where he was named in the Ultimate Team Legends in FIFA 14.[https://www.easports.com/fifa/news/2013/fifa-14-at-gamescom "FIFA 14 Ultimate Team Legends"]. EA Sports. Retrieved 6 February 2015 During his playing career Weah was sponsored by sportswear company Diadora, and he became famous for his red Diadora boots while playing for AC Milan.{{cite news |url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2000/05/05/diadora-veste-il-napoli-tifosi-sognano-weah.html?refresh_ce |title=Diadora veste il Napoli i tifosi sognano Weah |work=La Republica |language=it |date=24 June 2018}}

{{notelist}}

: Scores and results list Liberia's goal tally first, score column indicates score, where known, after each Weah goal

Mighty Barrolle

• Liberian Premier League: 1986{{cite news |url=https://www.pulse.com.gh/ece-frontpage/from-ballon-dor-to-president-the-rise-and-rise-of-liberias-george-weah/r4qte1r.amp |title=The rise and rise of Liberia's George Weah |work=Pulse Ghana |date=29 January 2018 |access-date=7 December 2023}}
• Liberian FA Cup: 1986

Invincible Eleven

• Liberian Premier League: 1987

Monaco

• Coupe de France: 1990–91

Paris Saint-Germain

• Division 1: 1993–94{{cite news |url=https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/articles/george-weah-tracking-the-rise-of-liberias-lone-star-through-his-wonder-goal |title=George Weah: Tracking The Rise Of Liberia's Lone Star Through His Wonder Goal |publisher=FIFA |date=12 October 2022 |access-date=7 December 2023}}{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/1260127.stm |title=Weah eyes Marseille future |website=BBC Sport |date=4 April 2001 |access-date=7 December 2023}}
• Coupe de France: 1992–93, 1994–95
• Coupe de la Ligue: 1994–95

AC Milan

• Serie A: 1995–96, 1998–99

Chelsea

• FA Cup: 1999–2000{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/fa_cup/756784.stm |title=Chelsea claim FA Cup glory |website=BBC News |date=20 May 2000 |access-date=4 November 2023}}

Liberia

• West African Nations Cup runner-up: 1987{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/players/george-weah-106/ |title=George Weah |website=11v11.com |access-date=19 November 2021}}

Individual

• African Footballer of the Year: 1989, 1995{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/afr-poy.html |title=African Player of the Year |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |date=5 January 2001 |access-date=9 January 2014}}
• World XI: 1991, 1996 (Reserve), 1997, 1998{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/fifa-xi.html |title=Matches of FIFA XI |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |access-date=16 June 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117033752/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/fifa-xi.html |archive-date=17 November 2015}}
• Division 1 Foreign Player of the Year: 1990–91{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/franpoy.html |title=France – Footballer of the Year |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |access-date=16 June 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905115225/http://rsssf.com/miscellaneous/franpoy.html |archive-date=5 September 2015}}
• UEFA Champions League top scorer: 1994–95{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec1tops.html |title=Champions Cup/Champions League Topscorers |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |first1=Roberto |last1=Di Maggio |first2=Roberto |last2=Mamrud |first3=Jarek |last3=Owsianski |first4=Davide |last4=Rota |date=11 June 2015 |access-date=22 December 2015}}
• BBC African Footballer of the Year: 1995{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/24450345 |title=History of the BBC African Footballer of the Year award |website=BBC Sport |first=Piers |last=Edwards |date=13 October 2015 |access-date=9 March 2016}}
• Onze d'Or: 1995{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/onze-awards.html |title="Onze Mondial" Awards: Onze de Onze 1976–2011 |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |first=José Luis |last=Pierrend |date=6 March 2012 |access-date=14 September 2015}}
• Ballon d'Or: 1995{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/europa-poy.html |title=European Footballer of the Year ("Ballon d'Or") |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |first1=Rob |last1=Moore |first2=Karel |last2=Stokkermans |date=21 January 2011 |access-date=22 December 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116080615/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/europa-poy.html |archive-date=16 January 2009}}
• RSSSF Player of the Year: 1995{{cite web |title=Rec.sport.soccer Player of the Year 1995 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/rssbest/rsspoy95.html |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |access-date=23 December 2021}}
• El País King of European Soccer: 1995{{cite web |title=European Player and Team of the Year |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/sam-eupoy.html |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |access-date=23 December 2021}}
• FIFA World Player of the Year: 1995{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/fifa-awards.html |title=FIFA Awards |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |first=José Luis |last=Pierrend |date=12 February 2015 |access-date=5 January 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112042845/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/fifa-awards.html |archive-date=12 January 2016}}
• ESM Team of the Year: 1995–96{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/esm-xi.html |title=ESM XI |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |access-date=13 April 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160207144925/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/esm-xi.html |archive-date=7 February 2016}}
• Onze d'Argent: 1996
• FIFA Fair Play Award: 1996{{cite web |title=FACTSheet FIFA awards |url=http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/fifafacts/r%26a-awards/52/01/02/144081_factsheet_fifaannualawards_english.pdf |publisher=FIFA |access-date=19 January 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122103135/http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/fifafacts/r%26a-awards/52/01/02/144081_factsheet_fifaannualawards_english.pdf |archive-date=22 January 2016}}
• FIFA World Player of the Year – Silver award: 1996
• Planète Foot's 50 Best Players of all Time: 1996{{cite web |title=The Best x Players of the Century/All-Time |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/best-x-players-of-y.html |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |access-date=23 December 2021}}
• IFFHS African Player of the Century: 1999{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/iffhs-century.html |title=Africa – Player of the Century |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |access-date=9 March 2016}}
• World Soccer's 100 Greatest Footballers of All Time: 1999{{cite web |url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamHons/HonsWldSocPlyrsCent.html |title=World Soccer Players of the Century |publisher=World Soccer |access-date=29 August 2014}}
• Placar's 100 Stars of the Century: 1999
• FIFA 100: 2004{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/2374252/Pele-open-to-ridicule-over-top-hundred.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/2374252/Pele-open-to-ridicule-over-top-hundred.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Pele open to ridicule over top hundred |work=The Daily Telegraph |first=Christopher |last=Davies |date=5 March 2004 |access-date=13 April 2015}}{{cbignore}}
• Arthur Ashe Courage Award 2004{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/espy2004/s/04asheaward.html |title=The 2004 ESPY Awards – Weah selected for Arthur Ashe Courage Award |publisher=ESPN |access-date=25 April 2007}}
• Golden Foot Legends Award: 2005{{cite web |url=http://www.goldenfoot.com/legends.php?l=en |title=Legends |publisher=Golden Foot |access-date=23 September 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925120930/http://www.goldenfoot.com/legends.php?l=en |archive-date=25 September 2015}}
• AC Milan Hall of Fame{{cite web |url=https://www.acmilan.com/en/club/hall-of-fame/all-players |title=Hall of Fame: All Players |publisher=AC Milan |access-date=5 November 2023}}
• IFFHS Legends{{cite web |url=http://iffhs.de/iffhs-has-announced-the-48-football-legend-players/ |title=IFFHS announce the 48 football legend players |publisher=IFFHS |date=25 January 2016 |access-date=14 September 2016}}
• World Hall of Fame of Soccer{{cite web |title=Hall of Fame of Soccer Mexico and World |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/mex-hof.html |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |access-date=23 December 2021}}
• France Football Légendes Africaines Top-30: 2019{{cite web |title=France Football "Légendes Africaines Top 30" |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/ff-afr30.html |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |access-date=23 December 2021}}
• IFFHS All-time Africa Men's Dream Team: 2021{{cite web |url=https://www.iffhs.com/posts/1121 |publisher=IFFHS |date=29 May 2021 |access-date=31 May 2021 |title=IFFHS}}

Weah is a devoted humanitarian for his war-torn country. During his playing career he became a UN Goodwill Ambassador. At the 2004 ESPY Awards at the Kodak Theatre, Los Angeles, Weah won the Arthur Ashe Courage Award for his efforts. He has also been named a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador,{{Cite news |url=https://www.unicef.org/people/people_george_weah.html |title=George Weah |publisher=UNICEF |access-date=27 December 2017}} a role which he has suspended in his political career.{{Cite news |url=http://www.worldofvolley.com/News/stories/Life-after-career/29342/george-weah---from-striker-to-president.html |title=George Weah – From striker to president |access-date=27 December 2017}} Off the football pitch, he stood out throughout his career for his initiatives to fight against racism in the game.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/4761857.stm |title=Weah on racism |website=BBC Sport |first=Durosimi |last=Thomas |date=11 May 2006 |access-date=3 October 2018}}

Weah has tried to use football as a way to bring happiness and promote education for children in Liberia. In 1998, Weah launched a CD called Lively Up Africa featuring the singer Frisbie Omo Isibor and eight other African football stars. The proceeds from this CD went to children's programs in the countries of origin of the athletes involved.

Weah was President of Junior Professional, a former football club he founded in Monrovia in 1994. As a way to encourage young people to remain in school, the club's only requirement for membership was school attendance. Many of the young people, recruited from all over Liberia, went on to play for the Liberian national team.{{Cite news |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201605091262.html |title=Liberia: Amb. George Manneh Saykozie Weah, Best Man to Lead New Liberia |last=Bamba |first=Mohammed M. |date=9 May 2016 |work=FrontPageAfrica (Monrovia) |access-date=27 December 2017}} Weah was also actively involved with youth programs in a Liberian enclave on Staten Island, New York, when he resided there for a time.{{cite news |url=https://www.silive.com/news/2017/12/former_staten_islander_george.html |title=Former Islander and soccer star George Weah elected president of Liberia |first=Erik |last=Bascome |newspaper=Staten Island Advance |date=29 December 2017 |access-date=30 May 2019}}

The Diya Group chairman and Indian entrepreneur Nirav Tripathi announced a multimillion-dollar partnership with Weah in 2016, whereby global football academies would be established to help assist youth in both impoverished and emerging nations.{{cite web |url=https://www.diyahopefootball.org/welcome |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109020945/https://www.diyahopefootball.org/welcome |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 January 2017 |title=Diya Hope Football Academy |publisher=Diya Hope Football Academy}}

The motivation for the academies is cited as a shared experience between both Tripathi and Weah in how sport can transform lives in their nations of India and Liberia, which both still suffer from severe poverty.

Following the end of the Second Liberian Civil War, Weah announced his intention to run for President of Liberia in the 2005 election, forming the Congress for Democratic Change to back his candidacy. While Weah was a popular figure in Liberia, opponents cited his lack of formal education as a handicap to his ability to lead the country, in contrast with his Harvard-educated opponent, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Analysts also noted Weah's lack of experience, calling him a "babe-in-the-woods", while Sirleaf had served as minister of finance in the William Tolbert administration in the 1970s and had held positions at Citibank, the World Bank and the United Nations. Weah's eligibility to run for presidency was also called into question as it was reported that he had become a French citizen in his footballing career at Paris Saint-Germain, but these complaints were rebuffed by the electoral commission in court and Weah was allowed to proceed.{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4403120.stm |title=Profile: George Weah |website=BBC News |date=11 November 2005 |access-date=27 December 2017}}

Weah obtained a plurality of votes in the first round of voting on 11 October, garnering 28.3% of the vote. This qualified him to compete in a run-off election against Sirleaf, the second placed candidate. However, he lost the run-off to Sirleaf on 8 November, garnering only 40.6% to 59.4% for Sirleaf. Weah alleged that the election had been rigged through voter intimidation and ballot tampering, and many of his supporters protested the results in the streets of Monrovia. However, after assurances that the vote was fair, several prominent African leaders called on Weah's supporters to accept the result with grace and dignity, and Sirleaf became president. The African Union had characterised the election as "peaceful, transparent, and fair".{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4433844.stm |website=BBC News |title=African leaders hail Liberia poll |date=13 November 2005}}

Weah's lack of education became a campaign issue. He has been highly critical of those who say he is not fit to govern: "With all their education and experience, they have governed this nation for hundreds of years. They have never done anything for the nation." He initially claimed to have a BA degree in sport management from Parkwood University in London; however, this is an unaccredited diploma mill, which awards certificates without requiring study.{{cite news |title=George Weah in Diploma-Mill Scandal |first=David |last=Goldenberg |newspaper=Gelf Magazine |date=22 April 2005 |url=http://www.gelfmagazine.com/mt/archives/george_weah_in_diplomamill_scandal.html}} Weah then pursued a degree in business administration at DeVry University in Miami.[https://www.voanews.com/a/a-13-2007-06-19-voa9-66717302/560271.html Liberia's George Weah to Seek a College Degree.] Voice of America. 19 June 2007. Retrieved 30 November 2009[https://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2010-08-11-428543297_x.htm George Weah gets educated in quest for election.] USA Today. 11 August 2010. Retrieved 11 August 2010

{{Wikinews|Liberia: Former football striker George Weah wins presidential election}}

Weah also remained active in Liberian politics, returning from the United States in 2009 to successfully campaign for the Congress for Democratic Change candidate in the Montserrado County senatorial by-election.[http://www.liberianobserver.com/node/3135 Weah Confronted.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305113553/http://liberianobserver.com/node/3135 |date=5 March 2016 }} Liberian Observer 25 November 2009. Retrieved 30 November 2009 Some analysts saw these moves as preparation for a repeat run for the presidency in 2011,[http://www.theliberiandialogue.org/articles/c072207tws.htm College-bound George Weah gave us something to talk about.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725033845/http://www.theliberiandialogue.org/articles/c072207tws.htm |date=25 July 2008 }} The Liberian Dialogue 22 July 2007. Retrieved 30 November 2009 and Weah did indeed later announce his intention to challenge Sirleaf in the 2011 election.{{cite web |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201008260072.html |title=Liberia: 'I Have Knowledge' |date=26 August 2010 |work=AllAfrica}} After a series of failed alliances with other opposition parties, the Congress for Democratic Change chose Weah as its 2011 vice presidential candidate, running with presidential candidate Winston Tubman.{{cite news |url=http://www.1847post.com/article/brumskine-siakor-another-dream-ticket |title=Brumskine-Siakor: Another Dream Ticket? |newspaper=The 1847 Post |date=9 February 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110411005144/http://www.1847post.com/article/brumskine-siakor-another-dream-ticket |archive-date=11 April 2011}} The Tubman/ Weah ticket managed to capture 32.7% of the vote in the first round with Sirleaf getting 43.9% of the vote.{{Cite web |title=IFES Election Guide {{!}} Elections: Liberian President 2011 General |url=https://electionguide.org/elections/id/2206/ |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=electionguide.org}} As neither had a majority the election, following the two-round system, proceeded to the next round. However, in the second round Sirleaf was re-elected, with the Tubman / Weah ticket receiving only 9.3% of the vote.{{Cite web |title=IFES Election Guide {{!}} Elections: Liberian President 2011 Round 2 |url=https://electionguide.org/elections/id/2214/ |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=electionguide.org}}

In 2014, he ran for election to the Senate of Liberia as a Congress for Democratic Change candidate in Montserrado County. He was elected to the Liberian Senate on 20 December 2014. Weah defeated Robert Sirleaf, the son of President Sirleaf, becoming the first Liberian international athlete elected to represent a county in the legislature. He won a landslide victory, receiving 99,226 votes, which represented 78.0% of the total votes from the 141 polling centers, while Sirleaf, his closest rival received 13,692 votes, which is nearly 11% in the election marred only by a low turnout.[http://www.necliberia.org/senate2014/county_30_2.html Montserrado County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113151037/http://www.necliberia.org/senate2014/county_30_2.html |date=13 January 2018 }} NEC Liberia{{cite web |url=http://www.liberianobserver.com |title=Top News – The Liberian Observer |access-date=16 June 2016}} Following his election, Weah only occasionally attended sessions of the Senate and did not introduce or sponsor any legislation.{{cite news |title=George Weah, an ex-footballer, wins Liberia's presidential election |url=https://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21733239-election-marks-liberias-first-democratic-transfer-power-1944-george-weah |access-date=31 December 2017 |newspaper=The Economist |date=29 December 2017}}

In April 2016, Weah announced his intention to run for President of Liberia in the 2017 election,{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-36166570 |title=Liberia ex-footballer George Weah to run for president again |website=BBC Sport |date=28 April 2016 |access-date=25 October 2017}} standing for the Coalition for Democratic Change. After winning the first round of the 2017 election with 38.4% of the vote, he and Joseph Boakai of the Unity Party went into the second round of the election. In the second round, Weah was elected President of Liberia, winning a run-off against vice president Joseph Boakai with more than 60% of the vote.{{cite news |title=Ex-soccer star 'King George' Weah wins Liberia's presidency |url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-liberia-election/ex-soccer-star-king-george-weah-wins-liberias-presidency-idUKKBN1EM1O6 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228231218/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-liberia-election/ex-soccer-star-king-george-weah-wins-liberias-presidency-idUKKBN1EM1O6 |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 December 2017 |access-date=28 December 2017 |work=Reuters |date=28 December 2017}}

File:George Weah 2019 (cropped).jpg

Weah was sworn in as president on 22 January 2018, making him the fourth youngest-serving president in Africa,{{cite news |title=Top 10 youngest serving presidents in Africa, 2018 |url=https://listwand.com/2018/01/top-10-youngest-presidents-in-africa-updated/ |agency=Listwand |date=3 October 2018 |access-date=3 October 2018 |archive-date=3 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003125007/https://listwand.com/2018/01/top-10-youngest-presidents-in-africa-updated/ |url-status=dead}} marking Liberia's first democratic transition in 74 years.{{cite news |title=George Weah sworn in as Liberia's president |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-42773165 |website=BBC News |date=22 March 2018}} He cited fighting corruption, reforming the economy, combating illiteracy and improving life conditions as the main targets of his presidency. Two other world class African strikers, Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto'o, attended the inauguration.{{cite news |title=George Weah sworn in as president of Liberia |url=https://en.as.com/en/2018/01/22/football/1516648087_302622.html |access-date=23 August 2018 |work=As |archive-date=15 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415152324/https://en.as.com/en/2018/01/22/football/1516648087_302622.html |url-status=dead}}

After winning 2017 election, Weah promised a Pro-Poor Agenda for Development and Prosperity, saying that this will benefit not just the poor, but all Liberians.{{Cite web |title=Finding Economic Solution: President George Manneh Weah commits to implementation of National Dialogue Recommendations {{!}} United Nations in Liberia |url=https://liberia.un.org/en/21164-finding-economic-solution-president-george-manneh-weah-commits-implementation-national,%20https://liberia.un.org/en/21164-finding-economic-solution-president-george-manneh-weah-commits-implementation-national |access-date=18 July 2023 |publisher=United Nations }}{{dead link|date=May 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

In 2019 inflation went as high as 28%. It made many Liberians to worry which led protests called "Save the State" in Monrovia and in Washington, D.C.{{Cite web |date=28 May 2019 |title=Liberians are worried their country is sliding into economic uncertainty under president Weah |url=https://qz.com/africa/1629355/liberias-george-weah-is-struggling-with-a-sinking-economy |access-date=18 July 2023 |website=Quartz}}

In September 2019, Weah attended the National Economic Dialogue (NED), seeking solutions amidst Liberia's economic crisis. A host of organizations rallied to develop a comprehensive program aimed at bolstering Liberia's economy. Weah urged Liberians to use the Dialogue as a national platform to craft strategies and offer workable solutions for the crisis. The forum yielded several recommendations, some of which are listed below:{{Cite web |title=Finding Economic Solution: President George Manneh Weah commits to implementation of National Dialogue Recommendations |publisher=United Nations |url=https://liberia.un.org/en/21164-finding-economic-solution-president-george-manneh-weah-commits-implementation-national |access-date=16 August 2023}}

• Review of recommendations of the TRC including the establishment of economic and war crimes court
• Printing of new currency
• Broad-based review of the national custom code
• Recapitalization of the Central Bank of Liberia
• Review of domestic and external debts
• Practical agriculture programs, peace and national reconciliation

During his second year in office, Weah and his administration witnessed a deterioration in the economy, with inflation reaching 30%. This economic downturn, coupled with payment delays, triggered protests against which the police employed tear gas and water cannons.{{Cite web |last=Rouse |first=Lucinda |title=Liberians grow wary of George Weah as economic woes deepen |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/1/28/liberians-grow-wary-of-george-weah-as-economic-woes-deepen |access-date=18 July 2023 |publisher=Al Jazeera}}

During his fourth State of the Nation address, President Weah presented a series of proposed economic policies and legislative reforms, aiming to address the worsening economic conditions.{{Cite web |date=26 January 2021 |title=Liberian economy front and centre of Weah's state of the nation speech |url=https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20210126-liberian-economy-front-and-centre-of-weah-s-state-of-the-nation-speech-africa-politics-growth-coronavirus |access-date=18 July 2023 |publisher=Radio France Internationale}}

After Weah came to power, Liberia's unemployment rate increased from 3% in 2017 to 4.1%. The Liberian economy grew 1–5% in the first five years of his administration (2018–2022).

On 29 January 2018, in his first annual message to the national legislature, he reduced his salary and other benefits by 25% with immediate effect, stating, "With the assessment that I gave you earlier of the poor condition of our economy, I believe that it is appropriate that we should all make sacrifices in the interest of our country. According to Article 60 of the Constitution of Liberia, the salaries of the president and the vice president are established by the Legislature of Liberia and cannot be increased or reduced during the period for which they are elected. However, in view of the very rapidly deteriorating situation of the economy, I am informing you today, with immediate effect, that I will reduce my salary and benefits by 25% and give the proceeds back to the Consolidated Fund for allocation and appropriation as they see fit."[http://www.emansion.gov.lr/2press.php?news_id=4347&related=7&pg=sp President Weah Delivers Maiden State of the Nation; Assures 25% Cut in Salary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180811022706/http://www.emansion.gov.lr/2press.php?news_id=4347&related=7&pg=sp |date=11 August 2018 }}, Libgov. Retrieved, 29 January 2018

On 29 January 2018, Weah announced he would seek constitutional changes to allow people of different ethnic descent to be citizens and allow foreigners to own land. He called the present situation "racist and inappropriate".{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-42871741 |title=Weah to scrap 'racist' citizenship law |year=2018 |website=BBC News |access-date=30 January 2018}}

File:2018 July 4 Celebration (2).jpg

On 12 September 2020, he declared a national emergency over sexual violence in the country, pledging to create a special prosecutor for rape, a national sex offender registry, and a national task force to tackle the issue.{{cite web |date=12 September 2020 |title=Liberia declares rape a national emergency after spike in cases |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/9/12/liberia-declares-rape-a-national-emergency-after-spike-in-cases |access-date=16 June 2022 |publisher=Al Jazeera}} He further announced a 2 million dollar emergency fund, part of which was used to purchase DNA-testing equipment for forensic identification of perpetrators.{{cite web |date=9 December 2021 |title=Liberia: One Year Since President Weah Declared Rape a National Emergency Activists Say Nothing Has Changed |url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/front-slider/liberia-one-year-since-president-weah-declared-rape-a-national-emergency-activists-say-nothing-has-changed/ |first=Mae |last=Azango |access-date=16 June 2022 |work=FrontPage Africa}} However, as of March 2022, the DNA-testing equipment had yet to be made functional.{{cite web |date=11 March 2022 |title=Women Legislative Caucus Calls for functional DNA Machines amid Increase in Rape Case |url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/gender-issues/women-legislative-caucus-calls-for-functional-dna-machines-amid-increase-in-rape-case/ |first=Gerald C. |last=Koinyeneh |access-date=16 June 2022 |work=FrontPage Africa}} As well, the special prosecutor had yet to be appointed, the sex offender registry had yet to be implemented, and specialized gender-based violence courts had only been implemented in three of the sixteen Liberian counties.{{cite web |date=7 June 2022 |title=Has Liberia's 'feminist' president forgotten his promise to tackle rape? |url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/5050/liberia-president-george-weah-rape-impunity/ |first=Bettie K. |last=Johnson-Mbayo |access-date=16 June 2022 |work=openDemocracy}}

Weah signed a drug bill into law which passed by the legislature after months. The law aimed to regulate, restrict, control, limit, or eradicate the illegal export and importation as well as the flagrant use, abuse, and proliferation of narcotics within the nation.{{Cite web |title=President Weah Signs Drugs Bill into Law {{!}} The Executive Mansion |url=https://www.emansion.gov.lr/media/press-release/president-weah-signs-drugs-bill-law |access-date=18 July 2023 |website=www.emansion.gov.lr}}

Months before the 2023 election, he accepted the endorsement of the Bassa people for re-election. They did this because "he has the competence and passion to develop Liberia."{{Cite web |title=President Weah Accepts Bassa People's Reelection Endorsement {{!}} The Executive Mansion |url=https://www.emansion.gov.lr/media/press-release/president-weah-accepts-bassa-peoples-reelection-endorsement |access-date=18 July 2023 |website=www.emansion.gov.lr}}

Under his presidency Liberia has made improvements to education by constructing and renovating schools to make sure children have better education and environment.{{Cite web |last=Admin |date=5 June 2023 |title=George Weah's Political leadership impact on Liberia |url=https://www.africanleadershipmagazine.co.uk/56331-2/ |access-date=18 July 2023 |website=African Leadership Magazine}}

Healthcare in Liberia improved since he became president in 2018. His administration invested into health infrastructure and medical equipment. He also deployed doctors to many underserved areas of the country. Weah instituted health insurance programs. Liberia's first dialysis center was built under his administration.[https://www.afro.who.int/countries/liberia/news/president-weah-commissions-liberias-first-national-dialysis-center-and-names-it-honour-his President Weah commissions Liberia's first National Dialysis Center and names it in honour of his predecessor] World Health Organization 7 March 2022 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220315125929/https://www.afro.who.int/countries/liberia/news/president-weah-commissions-liberias-first-national-dialysis-center-and-names-it-honour-his|date=15 March 2022}}

Upon his election to office, Weah first made an official visit in Senegal to meet with President Macky Sall, to "strengthen the bond between the two countries". On 21 February 2018, Weah made his first official visit outside Africa, to France, meeting French president Emmanuel Macron. The meeting focused on improving the relationship between France and Liberia and also sought French help for a sports development project in Africa. The meeting was also attended by Didier Drogba, Kylian Mbappé and FIFA president Gianni Infantino.{{Cite news |url=https://www.parismatch.com/Actu/Politique/Macron-recoit-Weah-a-l-Elysee-en-presence-de-Drogba-et-Mbappe-1465295 |title=Macron reçoit Weah à l'Elysée en présence de Drogba et Mbappé |year=2018 |work=Paris Match |access-date=21 February 2018 |language=FR}}

On 25 May 2018, following a meeting with President Weah, the Liberian Football Association president Musa Bility announced that Liberia would vote for the Canada–Mexico–United States World Cup bid, breaking ranks with the rest of Africa, who were voting for the Moroccan bid.{{cite news |last1=Edwards |first1=Piers |title=Liberia to vote against Morocco's 2026 World Cup bid |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/44247560 |website=BBC Sport}}

He made a visit to China to congratulate Xi Jinping on his re-election. President Weah said he looked forward to further cementing the strong ties that exist between both countries since establishment between both nations.{{Cite web |date=11 June 2023 |title=Pres. Weah Congratulates Pres. Xi on His Reelection {{!}} The Executive Mansion |url=https://www.emansion.gov.lr/media/press-release/pres-weah-congratulates-pres-xi-his-reelection |access-date=18 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230611173518/https://www.emansion.gov.lr/media/press-release/pres-weah-congratulates-pres-xi-his-reelection |archive-date=11 June 2023 }}

File:Reuven Rivlin with George Mena Wah, February 2019 (8308).jpg in Israel, 2019.]]

In July 2023, he met with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss topics of cementing ties, trade, cooperation on international affairs, peace, and security.{{Cite web |title=President Weah Holds Bilateral Meeting With Israeli Leaders {{!}} The Executive Mansion |url=https://www.emansion.gov.lr/media/press-release/president-weah-holds-bilateral-meeting-israeli-leaders |access-date=18 July 2023 |website=www.emansion.gov.lr}}

{{Further|2019–2020 Liberian protests}}

As President, Weah has come under criticism for inciting violence on opposition candidates including Telia Urey in 2019.{{cite web |last1=Rodney |first1=Sieh |title=We Couldn't Get Out |url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/politics/liberia-we-couldnt-get-out-telia-urey-on-how-she-escaped-death-in-district-15-attack/ |work=FrontPageAfrica |date=18 August 2019}} On 15 August 2022, three senior members of Weah's cabinet were sanctioned by the United States for alleged corruption.{{cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/george-weah-government-and-politics-c602d2dab6b91daaada07ea58db67437 |title=Senior Liberian officials hit with U.S. financial sanctions |publisher=AP News |date=15 August 2022 |accessdate=17 August 2022}}

On 25 March 2020, the Liberian president recorded his song with the local group The Rabbis, the text of which was written by himself. In this song "He invites the Liberian and African population to stand up by all means against this virus [SARS-CoV-2] which is causing damage around the world."{{cite web |last=Cochimau |first=Houngbadji |date=9 April 2020 |title=Liberia: l'émouvante chanson du président George Weah contre la Covid-19 (vidéo) |url=https://beninwebtv.com/2020/04/liberia-lemouvante-chanson-du-president-george-weah-contre-la-covid-19-video/ |access-date=10 April 2020 |website=BENIN WEB TV |language=fr-FR |archive-date=12 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412171959/https://beninwebtv.com/2020/04/liberia-lemouvante-chanson-du-president-george-weah-contre-la-covid-19-video/ |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |last=www.20min.ch |first=www 20minutes ch, 20 Minutes, 20 Min |title=La chanson de George Weah contre le Covid-19 |url=https://www.20min.ch/ro/sports/football/story/20002404 |access-date=10 April 2020 |website=20 Minutes |date=April 2020 |language=fr}}

"It could be your mother, it could be your dad, your brothers or your sisters. Let's all stand together to fight this dirty virus"-an extract from President Weah's song on a reggae rhythm. The majority of people in Liberia do not have internet or Facebook access, but radio is a popular and very accessible form of entertainment in the African country.. The song would be played on various stations across the country to properly broadcast the message, according to the president's spokesperson.{{cite web |date=2020-03-26 |title=Liberia : le président George Weah chante contre le coronavirus |url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/monde/afrique/societe-africaine/liberia-le-president-george-weah-chante-contre-le-coronavirus_3885653.html |access-date=2020-04-10 |website=Franceinfo |language=fr}}{{cite web |title=George Weah chante contre le coronavirus – Foot – Coronavirus |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/George-weah-chante-contre-le-coronavirus/1123858 |access-date=2020-04-10 |website=L'Équipe |language=fr}}

Weah has four children; three children with his Jamaican-born{{cite web |url=https://globeafrique.com/jamaican-first-lady-for-liberia-excites-jamaicans-worldwide |title=Jamaican 'First Lady' for Liberia Excites Jamaicans worldwide |access-date=29 December 2017 |work=Globe Afrique |date=4 October 2017 |first=Ben |last=Mabande |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230060245/https://globeafrique.com/jamaican-first-lady-for-liberia-excites-jamaicans-worldwide/ |archive-date=30 December 2017 |url-status=dead}} wife Clar Weah: George, Tita, and Timothy and a child from another relationship. In 2016, he was sued by the mother of his daughter for child support expenses.{{cite web |title=Weah child support expenses |url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/diaspora/u-s-court-denies-weah-attorney-fees-in-child-support-case/ |work=Front Page Africa |date=October 2016}} Both of his sons became footballers and signed for Paris Saint-Germain,{{cite web |title=Weah's Son Signs For PSG |url=http://monroviainquirer.com/2015/09/15/weahs-son-signs-for-psg/ |website=The Inquirer Newspaper |publisher=The Inquirer |access-date=5 December 2015 |date=15 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208103909/http://monroviainquirer.com/2015/09/15/weahs-son-signs-for-psg/ |archive-date=8 December 2015 |url-status=dead}} although only Timothy played for the first team.{{cite news |title=U.S.'s Timothy Weah, son of George, makes debut for PSG |url=http://www.espn.co.uk/football/paris-saint-germain/story/3404724/us-youth-international-timothy-weah-son-of-george-makes-debut-for-psg |access-date=10 April 2018 |publisher=ESPN |date=3 March 2018}} Both played as youth internationals for the United States,{{cite web |url=http://www.ussoccer.com/players/2014/05/14/10/51/timothy-weah |title=Timothy Weah |publisher=U.S. Soccer |access-date=29 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903074554/http://www.ussoccer.com/players/2014/05/14/10/51/timothy-weah |archive-date=3 September 2014}} and Timothy was capped for the senior team where he appeared and scored a goal at the 2022 World Cup{{cite news |title=USA edge Paraguay on Bobby Wood penalty as Tim Weah debuts |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/mar/27/usa-paraguay-score-friendly-bobby-wood-tim-weah |access-date=10 April 2018 |newspaper=The Guardian |agency=Associated Press |date=28 March 2018}} against Wales. George Weah also has a less notable cousin called Stephen Weah, who also played as a footballer for Preston Lions FC of Melbourne, Australia.{{cite web|url=http://www.liberiansoccer.com/Weah's%20Cousin%20on%20football%20trial%20in%20Australia.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050308084523/http://www.liberiansoccer.com/Weah's%20Cousin%20on%20football%20trial%20in%20Australia.htm |archive-date=2005-03-08|title=Weah's Cousin on football trial in Australia | access-date=2023-10-01}}

Weah practiced Islam for ten years before converting to Christianity.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/sports_talk/forum/1550731.stm |title=You quizzed George Weah |website=BBC Sport |date=18 September 2001 |access-date=5 November 2023}} In October 2017, he was spotted in the prominent Nigerian church of Pastor T. B. Joshua alongside Liberian senator Prince Johnson.{{Cite news |title=Weah, Boakai Seek Nigerian Prophet T.B. Joshua's Blessing For Liberian Presidency |url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/index.php/politics/5841-prince-johnson-george-weah-attend-same-service-in-nigeria |work=Front Page Africa (Liberia) |date=22 October 2017 |access-date=11 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171226170235/http://frontpageafricaonline.com/index.php/politics/5841-prince-johnson-george-weah-attend-same-service-in-nigeria |archive-date=26 December 2017 |url-status=dead}} Joshua was allegedly a key influence in Johnson's decision to endorse Weah's candidacy in the 2017 election.{{Cite news |title=Ex-Liberian Warlord Endorses Weah After Joint Visit To Nigerian Pastor |url=http://www.africanews.com/2017/10/27/ex-liberian-warlord-endorses-weah-after-joint-visit-to-nigerian-pastor/ |work=Africa News |date=27 October 2017}}{{Cite news |title=Liberian newspapers zoom on Prince Johnson, Weah in Nigeria for prayers, others |url=https://www.journalducameroun.com/en/liberian-newspapers-zoom-on-prince-johnson-weah-in-nigeria-for-prayers-others/ |work=Journal Du Cameroun |date=23 October 2017 |access-date=9 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110124433/https://www.journalducameroun.com/en/liberian-newspapers-zoom-on-prince-johnson-weah-in-nigeria-for-prayers-others/ |archive-date=10 November 2017 |url-status=dead}}

Weah holds French citizenship and speaks French fluently.{{cite news |url=http://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2017/12/29/george-weah-l-enfant-du-ghetto-devenu-president_5235874_3212.html |title=George Weah, l'enfant du ghetto devenu président du Liberia |work=Le Monde Afrique |date=30 December 2017}}

• List of association football families
• List of sportsperson-politicians

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

{{Wikiquote}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150421011228/http://liberiansoccer.com/George%20Weah.htm Profile and statistics] – www.liberiansoccer.com
• [https://www.unicef.org/goodwill-ambassadors/george-weah Biography] on UNICEF's homepage

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