Timothy Weah: Why Lille Striker Opted To Play for USA Despite Dad George Weah Being Liberia’s President

• Timothy Weah is an important member of the United States Men’s National Football Team
• The 22-year-old scored a screamer in the USA's opening group stage 1-1 draw against Wales
• Weah was born in New York and featured for several youth teams before his national call-up

Timothy Weah, the 22-year-old son of Liberian president George Weah, currently represents the United States Men’s National Football Team (USMNT) at the FIFA World Cup.

The Lille of France striker has inspired the USMNT to the second round stage of the competition, as they face the Netherlands on December 3 in the knockouts.

George Weah is a legend of the game and remains the only African to have won the prestigious Ballon d’Or, having bagged the prize in 1995.

In 2018, the former AC Milan superstar was elected the president of Liberia, but four years later, his son Timothy is playing for the USA in Qatar.

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Timothy was born in New York in the year 2000, and reports have it that he also has French and Jamaican nationality.

He has represented several youth teams in America, and in 2018 was handed a senior national team call-up. Timothy has so far played 28 international matches, scoring 4 goals.

Asked why he chose to represent the United States, Timothy said via Marca:

"I wasn't thinking about anything else. Obviously, my roots will always be my roots, but I grew up in the United States. I've lived here my whole life. My family and friends are here."

Timothy added that he began with the American national team at age 12, so he never had to pick a side or make a decision about which nation to represent.

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Timothy also expressed delight to have featured in a massive tournament like the FIFA World Cup, adding:

"It's a blessing. It will be an honour to represent my family and my country on the biggest stage in history. Everyone will be happy living the dream through me."

Why Mbappe represents France instead

Sports Brief earlier reported that the father of France striker Kylian Mbappe has explained all that led to his son choosing to play for France, instead of Cameroon.

Mbappe was born in Paris to a Cameroonian father, Wilfried and an Algerian mother, but he had made efforts to play senior national team football for the Central African Country where his dad hails from.

Back in 2018, Wilfried alleged that a member of the Cameroon FA requested a payment before his son would be allowed into the Indomitable Lions’ squad.