Timothy Weah, the son of Liberia President George Weah, is playing for the USMNT at the FIFA World Cup 2022. 

Who is George Weah?

George Weah is a Liberian politician and former professional footballer. He is serving as the president of Liberia, in office since 2018. Before his election to the presidency, Weah served as Senator from Montserrado County.

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Weah was born on October 1, 1966, in the Clara Town district of Monrovia. His father William T Weah Sr. was a mechanic and his mother Anna Quayeweah was a seller. He has three brothers, William, Moses, and Wolo. His parents separated when George was still a baby. He was one of thirteen children largely raised by his paternal grandmother Emma Klonjlaleh Brown. George attended high school at Muslim Congress and high school at Wells Hairston High School. He reportedly dropped out in his final year of studies.

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At the age of 15, George started playing football for the Young Survivors youth club. Later, he moved to other local clubs, taking starring roles for Mighty Barrolle and Invincible Eleven.

Weah also worked as a switchboard technician for the Liberia Telecommunications Corporation

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He climbed to the top of the soccer mountain during the 1980s and 1990s. Weah was a prolific striker and was known for an unmatched ability to time runs behind the defense, as well as a calm demeanor in front of the goal.

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Weah reached the highest level of his career in 1995, receiving the Ballon d’Or after laying waste to Ligue 1 with Paris Saint-Germain and Serie A with AC Milan. To date, he is the only African player to ever receive the honor. He is also the first African former professional soccer player to become head of a state.

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Weah’s career spanned over thirty years. He accumulated around 200 professional goals, the majority of which were scored in the top five European leagues. Since his retirement in 2001, Weah has been called the greatest African footballer ever, whose influence continues to ruminate on pitches across the continent.

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He was the flag-bearer for African football, alongside other icons like Roger Milla, Jay-Jay Okocha, and Abedi Pele, who laid the groundwork for African stars of the present.