Former World Best Footballer, George Weah Wins Liberia Presidential Election

Professional footballer turned politician, George Tawlon Manneh Oppong Ousman Weah, has reportedly won the Liberia Presidential election.

The 1995 FIFA World Player of the Year and Ballon d’Or winner, succeeds President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, in a contest that completes the country’s first democratic transition of power in more than 70 years.

He is the only African player to win FIFA World Player of the Year and Ballon d’Or.

In 2011 he also ran for the vice-president role on the losing ticket but now, at the age of 51, is strongly placed to emerge as the successor to Ellen Sirleaf Johnson.

His closest rival Joseph Boakai, Sirleaf’s vice president, is trailing the African football genius who enjoyed footballing stints at Monaco, PSG, Marseille (France).

The former Chelsea and Manchester City player was a three-time winner of the African Footballer of the Year prize.

He was crowned World Footballer of the Year in 1995, comfortably beating German legend Jürgen Klinsmann into second place.

Other footballers to enter politics include: – Pelé and Zico have both served as Brazilian sports ministers.