George Weah wins Liberia presidential election

George Weah, a retired World Best Footballer has 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.

At the beginning of his impressive career, Weah played in the Liberian domestic league, and won several national honours (including the Liberian Premier League and the Liberian Cup). He moved to Europe in 1988, when he was signed by Arsène Wenger, who was the manager of Monaco at the time, and whom Weah credits as an important influence on his career. During his time with Monaco, Weah won 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 also won the Coupe de France in 1991, and he helped Monaco reach the final of the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1992, scoring four goals in nine cup appearances.

He is the only African player to win FIFA World Player of the Year and Ballon d’Or. He is also the only former footballer who became the president of a country.