A list of all George Weah’s awards and achievements in football: How successful was he?

A list of all George Weah’s awards and achievements in football: How successful was he?

Grace Waruguru
updated at November 12, 2023 at 9:35 AM

Dr. George Weah's awards and achievements result from a successful football and political career. The legendary former sports personality and Liberian president started playing as a young boy and became an international star, playing for clubs like AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Here is a list of all his awards and achievements in his football career before he turned to politics.

George Weah awards
George Weah is the Liberian President and former professional footballer. Photo: Aurelien Meunier (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

George Weah is the 24th Liberian president after assuming office in 2018. His election made him the fourth youngest-serving African president and the first professional footballer to become president. His achievements in sports continue to be celebrated years after his retirement. What are George Weah's awards and achievements in football? Discover as you read on.

George Weah's profile and bio summary

Full name

George Manneh Oppong Weah

Age

57 years old (as of 2023)

Date of birth

October 1, 1966

Zodiac sign

Libra

Nationality

Liberian

Place of birth

Monrovia, Liberia

Ethnicity

Mixed (Kru and Bassa)

Religion

Christian

Marital status

Married

Spouse

Clar Marie Weah

Children

4

Parents

William Tarpeh Weah Sr. and Anna Quayeweh Weah

Siblings

William, Moses, Wolo

Height

6 feet, 1 inch

Weight

82kgs

Hair colour

Bald

Eye colour

Brown

Education

DeVry University

Profession

Liberian president, retired professional footballer

Net worth

$90 million

Social media presence

X (Twitter),

George Weah's background

 which year did George Weah won world best
George Weah played for teams like AC Milan and Manchester City during his professional career. Photo: Harold Cunningham (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

George Weah (aged 57 years old in 2023) was born on October 1, 1966, in Monrovia, Liberia. He was brought up in a city slum, Clara, by his paternal grandmother alongside three siblings. His father, William Tarpeh Weah Sr., worked as a mechanic, and his mother, Anna Quayeweh Weah, was a merchant. Unfortunately, Weah's parents separated when he was still a young boy and are now both deceased.

Education

The footballer-turned-politician attended the Muslim Congress and Wells Hairston High Schools. He attained a high school diploma from the Continental Academy in America in 2007. In 2011, he graduated with a B.A in Business Administration from DeVry University. He holds a Master's in Public Administration from Keller Graduate School of Management, DeVry University (Class of 2013).

Additionally, George has three honorary Doctorate degrees awarded for his contributions to sports, humanity, peacebuilding, and education.

Career

George Weah club history
George Weah won the African Player of the Year Award thrice, in 1989, 1994, and 1995. Photo: Yves Herman (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Weah started playing for a local football club, Young Survivors, in 1981 at 15. His impeccable skill saw the team move from the fourth level of Liberian football to the second. The player joined Bong Range United, a Liberian Premier League franchise, in 1984 for one season before transitioning to Mighty Barolle, one of the biggest clubs in the country.

George Weah's football awards began in 1987, when he became the Mighty Barolle's top scorer, helping the team bag the Liberian Premier League title. He was also named the league's player of the season. His skills were noticed by international football stakeholders, leading to his debut abroad after a few years.

George Weah's awards

Weah's success in the sport goes beyond his home country, earning him global recognition for his skill and consistency. George Weah's World Best Award (FIFA) in 1995 is one of his most notable accomplishments.

What teams did George Weah play for?

George Weah individual awards
George Weah scored 15 goals during his tenure at PSG between 1992 and 1995. Photo: Dursun Aydemir (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

The football legend represented numerous clubs and his country's national team. Arsene Wenger, who also worked as his manager, facilitated George Weah's transfer to the French club Monaco in 1988, marking the debut of his international career. Here is George Weah's club history:

  • 1986 -1987: Invincible Eleven
  • 1987 - 1988: Tonnerre Yaoundé
  • 1988 - 1992: Monaco
  • 1992 - 1995: Paris Saint-Germain
  • 1995 - 2000: AC Milan
  • 2000: Chelsea (on loan)
  • 2000: Manchester City
  • 2000 - 2001: Marseille
  • 2001 - 2003: Al Jazira

How many goals did George Weah score for AC Milan? He scored seven goals during his time with the team (1995-2000. At PSG, the retired athlete scored 15 goals. The 57-year-old was inducted into the AC Milan Hall of Fame in 2013.

George Weah's individual awards

George Weah accomplishments
George Weah was inducted into the AC Milan Hall of Fame in 2013. Photo: Francois Guillot (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

In 1989, one year after joining Monaco, George was named the African Footballer of the Year in 1989. This accolade was the first of several personal awards, including:

  • French Division 1 Foreign Player of the Year (1990 and 1991)
  • Top scorer of the 1994/1995 UEFA Champions League after scoring seven goals
  • African Footballer of the Year Award (1994, 1995)
  • Supercoppa Italiana runner-up (1996 and 1999)
  • BBC African Footballer of the Year (1995)
  • El País King of European Soccer (1995)
  • First runner-up, FIFA World Player of the Year (1996)
  • FIFA Fair Play Award (1996)
  • IFFHS African Player of the Century (1996)
  • World Soccer 100 Greatest Footballers of All Time (1996)
  • Golden Foot Legends Award (2005)

Did George Weah win a Ballon d'Or?

Which year did George Weah win the world best? 1995 was a remarkable year for the athlete. George made history by becoming the first African and third black player to win the Ballon d'Or after Eusebio and Ruud Gullit. He was named the FIFA World Player of the Year the same year, making him the only FIFA African player to win the two.

George Weah's accomplishments in different clubs

George Weah world best award
George Weah won the Ballon d'Or in 1995. Photo: Sia Kambou (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Besides individual awards, Weah helped his teams win various awards and trophies. These include:

  • Invincible Eleven Liberian Championship (1987)
  • Monaco Coupe de France title 1990/1991)
  • AC Milan Serie A Cup (1988/1989 and 1995/1996)
  • PSG Division 1 Championship (1993/1994)
  • PSG French Cup (1993/1994)
  • Chelsea FA Cup (1999/2000)
  • Liberia West Africa Nations Cup runner-up (1987)

George Weah's awards inspire sports enthusiasts and upcoming footballers, primarily in Africa, that they can excel in the sport and achieve what others have not. The Liberian president will be remembered by many for breaking barriers and thriving in sports and politics.

READ ALSO: Ranking the best African players in the Premier League in 2023

Sports Brief published an article ranking the best African players in the EPL. The continent has produced some of the finest players globally, winning trophies and awards for their teams and individuals. Who are some of these players?

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is one of the best Africans in the league. The French striker plays for club Chelsea. Others include Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and Liverpool's Riyad Mahrez. Check out the above article's top 20 African football icons playing in the Premier League.

Authors
Grace Waruguru photo
Grace Waruguru
Grace has over 4 years of experience in article writing and digital media content creation for various local and global brands. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication (Public Relations) from Daystar University, Kenya.