George Weah
UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Alumnus
"Today one of my dreams has come true – to become part of the UNICEF family."
George Weah, former international football star, became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 1997. George grew up in Liberia’s impoverished capital, Monrovia, where he first learned to play football with home-made rag balls. George’s longstanding commitment to humanitarian activities, especially in Africa, has earned him the admiration of many, including Nelson Mandela, who called him the "African Pride."
George first worked with UNICEF in 1994 when he helped publicize immunization campaigns in Liberia. During his time as a Goodwill Ambassador, George’s efforts on behalf of UNICEF have included vital support for HIV/AIDS education programmes and other projects in Ghana and Liberia.
George has had an extraordinary international football career, most notably with the prestigious Italian club AC Milan, with whom he won the Ballon d'Or and the Italian National Championship. In 1996, he won FIFA’s Fair Play Award.
After retiring from soccer, George became a politician and the twenty-fifth President of Liberia.