President George Weah Plays for Liberia against Nigeria, aged 51

The football icon, former World Footballer of the Year and the current President of Liberia, George Weah led his country's team in a friendly match against Nigeria's Super Eagles in Monrovia on Tuesday, 12 September, 2018, in 2-1 loss to Nigeria.

Liberia had arranged the friendly to retire the number 14 jersey made famous by Weah.

But fans were in for a shock when, 16 years after his last international appearance, the striker led the national team onto the pitch wearing it instead. Weah turns 52 in just over a fortnight.

Some people say politics and football don’t mix, but after watching Liberia President George Weah take to the pitch during an international game, those people may change their minds.

The 51 year-old, who was elected Liberia president in January 2018, retired from football over 15 years ago but made his return in a friendly against Nigeria in Monrovia.  

Weah wore his famous number 14 shirt during the match, which was arranged in his honour, before the number was retired afterwards.

During his time as a Liberia player, he wore the number 14 shirt. The friendly match with Nigeria was arranged to officially retire the shirt (No.14), but nobody expected that the 51-year-old would play in the game.

The former AC Milan striker was given a standing ovation when he left the pitch, with Nigeria holding on for a 2-1 win.  

Weah, who led the attack and showed glimpses of the class that made him a household name around the world, received a standing ovation from fans when he was substituted on 79 minutes.

Goals from Henry Onyekuru and Simeon Nwankwo helped Nigeria to a 2-0 lead before the hosts pulled one back through a Kpah Sherman penalty late in the game.

Weah enjoyed a career in Europe spanning nearly a decade and a half that saw him play for Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille in France, AC Milan in Italy and English sides Manchester City and Chelsea.

As well as being named the 1995 World Footballer of the Year, he also won the Ballon d'Or in the same year and remains the only African to win either award.

Weah's popularity from his playing career saw him secure a landslide run-off win last December in Liberia's presidential elections.

Weah's son Timothy was in an international action for USA on the same day his father turned out for Liberia.