GLORIOUS
GEORGE
In 1995, George Weah did something no African footballer had ever done before in winning
the Ballon d’Or – and hasn’t again in the 27 years hence. But how did a former weed-smoking
striker conquer the world... without really scoring that many goals? Allow FFT to explain...Words Huw Davies
C
an a Ballon d’Or winner be underrated?
Blame Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel
Messi for freakishly skewing records and
expectations. Messi’s award-winning
2012 featured 91 goals for club and country,
including 59 league goals. Fifty-nine.
In 1995, George Weah scored only seven.
To the overly invested Ronaldo stans and
‘Messi GOAT’ accounts on Twitter, that may
seem laughable for a striker also named the
world’s best player that year – just as three
European league titles and five domestic
cups makes for a comparatively lean career
CV. Nor was Weah a YouTube footballer: he
made great goals look simple and his most
famous strike, that instantly recognisableGEORGE
WEAH