How to forge a career as a footballer and make a name for yourself when you are the son of one of the best African players of the 1990s?

American striker Timothy Weah, son George, now president of Liberia, has already found a way to stand out: he participates - and scores - in the World Cup, something his illustrious father never had the opportunity to do. TO DO.

Tuesday, after the match won by the United States against Iran (1-0), Timothy Weah, 22, fell into the arms of his father, president of Liberia, and incidentally crowned Ballon d'Or in 1995 , the first and only African player to receive football's most prestigious individual honour.

A huge striker, notably at Paris-SG and AC Milan in the 1990s, George Weah was never able to qualify his country, Liberia, for the World Cup.

What a moment for the Weah family ❤️💙 pic.twitter.com/lSqq7WgxX4

— US Men's National Soccer Team (@USMNT) November 29, 2022

The young United States team, in which Tim Weah has started since the start of the tournament, has qualified for the round of 16 of the World Cup-2022, and will face the Netherlands on Saturday.

child of the ball

Born in New York, Tim Weah played there in youth teams, as well as in Florida, until his departure for Europe shortly before his 15th birthday.

He caught the eye of Paris Saint-Germain in 2014, which ended up hiring him as a youth player, where he would shine from the U17s to the U19s. 

His big brother, George Weah Jr, also had a career as a professional footballer after his training at AC Milan, in modest European clubs, or in particular with the reserve of PSG.

In 2017, Timothy signed his first three-year professional contract with PSG and made his Ligue 1 debut less than a year later, saying he was "proud to play for [his] favorite club".

After six appearances (and two goals) with the PSG pros, lacking playing time, he was loaned to Celtic Glasgow, in Scottish D1.

Since 2019, Tim Weah has been playing for Lille, where after a debut marred by recurring injuries, he went from substitute status to more regular starter.

And he still has three French championship titles to his name (2018 and 2019 with PSG, 2021 with Lille).

Selectable with the United States, Liberia, Jamaica and France, Timothy Weah has always played with Team USA, since the U15s.

Since his first team debut in 2018, he has scored 4 goals in 26 appearances.

"A wonderful feeling"

Timothy Weah arrives at the 2022 World Cup as a starter with Team USA and knows the joy of scoring his team's first goal in Qatar, in the draw against Wales (1-1).

"It's a great feeling. I think my father is living this moment through me. I'm very happy to have scored this goal for my family and to have been able to help the team," he said at the time.

12 years ago, Tim Weah, then 10 years old, attended with his father the final of the 2010 World Cup and the crowning of Spain by Xavi and Iniesta.

"Just seeing that, watching all my favorite players on the pitch, it was a dream come true," he told AFP shortly before the start of the tournament.

"So to find myself today in this position, it's crazy, almost unreal. I imagine that sometimes in our situation, you don't realize how lucky you are. To be here, it's an incredible feeling" , he added.

'More than football'

But the striker has the ambition to see even higher alongside the dynamic American selection which, despite his young age and lack of experience, does not leave beaten in advance against the Dutch.

"I think in today's football, age is just a number. Some of the best players in the world aren't even 24," he said.

"Even though we're young, we're not an immature group at all. We're a group of guys who know what they want. Individually, we each have our experiences and when we get together, each brings their own level of maturity to the team," he added.

🏆 #FIFAWorldCup


🇺🇸🗨️ Timothy Weah: "I don't have the words..."#IRNUSA #beINFWC22 pic.twitter.com/ClTEerPnLe

— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) November 29, 2022

This maturity, he showed again after the match against Iran, paying tribute on Instagram to the "Team Melli".

>> Report: clashes between Iranian supporters on the sidelines of the Iran - United States match

"It has always been more than football to me and I just wanted to salute this wonderful team, who have shown so much pride and love for their country and their people. Huge respect," he wrote.

Scorer and leader, the young Weah has something to hold on to.

>> "Football has no meaning when children are killed in Iran": report from Iranian supporters

George, president and supporter

A leader whose presence in Qatar is making a lot of noise.

When George Weah left Liberia at the end of October, his compatriots were far from imagining that they would not see their president again for about forty days. 

Just had dinner with my son Timothy Weah.

Proud daddy.

pic.twitter.com/Jrx2vT3iAa

— George Weah (@GeorgeWeahOff) November 22, 2022

The images of the president in the stands of the World Cup did not go over well with everyone in Liberia, especially when the population is fighting daily against rising prices or the shortage of basic necessities.

The opposition seized on this prolonged absence, shared between the World Cup and political summits.

She had one of her opponents, Joseph Boikai, say that George Weah was leaving Liberia "on autopilot".

Between his departure on October 31 and December 18, the announced date of his return, George Weah will have taken part in a forum on North-South dialogue in Morocco, at COP 27 in Egypt, in a forum on international cooperation in France and another on sport and peace in Monaco, finally at a summit of African leaders in the United States.

And in the middle of this agenda, ten days in Qatar to encourage his son Timothy.

With AFP

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