Not many people of this current generation in Liberia witnessed the live performances of its soccer legend, George Weah whose name will remain in history as one of the often talked about greatest players of Africa and the world, especially in his home country, Liberia.
October 1 marks the birthday of this soccer legend and is the day soccer followers across the globe reflect on the performances and achievements of the 1995 Fifa Ballon d’Or winner.
The former European player of the year is currently vowing for the country’s presidential seat, not every Liberian supports his ambition, but regardless of their political ideologies, thousands of Liberians took to social media to wish the soccer legend best birthday wishes, appreciating him for his efforts made during his active football career to put the West African State on the map.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“Happy birthday to our legend Sen. George Weah. As you celebrate another year, we wish you only the best to come,” [/perfectpullquote]
Weah’s former club Invincible Eleven (IE) posted on its official Facebook page.
The 1990-91 French Division 1 Foreign Player of the Year during his early career, played for IE from 1986-87 where he made 23 appearances and scored 24 goals.
George Weah’s country Liberia that has an estimated 4.5 million population was not known by many until the 51-year-old dominated the sports headlines during the 1995-96 league season after winning over 7 prestigious individual awards and most importantly, the FIFA World Player of the Year.
Following eight years of an active football career in Liberia and Africa, Weah moved to Europe in 1988 and joined Monaco in the French league. The Liberian legend for the first time won a major award, African Player of the Year in 1989, becoming the first Liberian to win it.
After a successful season with Monaco, he won the Coupe de France in 1991 and helping his team reach the final of the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1992. Weah later moved to Paris Saint-Germain where he played from 1992-95 and won the Coupe de France in 1993 and 1995, the French league in 1994 and the Coup de la Ligue in 1995. His performance during the season earned him his second African Footballer of the Year Award for the second time in 1994.
Due to his successes, goal scoring, and performances with both Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan, in 1995 Weah was the recipient of several individual awards; he won the Ballon d’Or, the Onez d’Or, and was named FIFA World Player of the Year, becoming the first and, currently, only native African player ever to win these awards.
The African football legend will forever be remembered and on his birthday of October 1 of every year, will always reflect the minds on the minds of Liberians and football followers for his astonishing career.
Featured Photo: AFP
