As a young boy, Tim Weah was generally aware his father had played professional soccer.There were clues all around the house: photos from his career, the jersey on the wall.
Then when Tim was 10 years old, his father brought him to the World Cup in South Africa.Limited time: Save 25% on NBC News subscriptionGet exclusive reporting, live Q&As and ad-free reading.George Weah was going for work as a TV commentator.But he also wasn’t going to miss the first World Cup being hosted by an African nation.
George is from Liberia and is considered one of the greatest players the continent has ever produced.In his prime, he played for European powers Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan and in 1995 won the Ballon d’Or, which was given at the time to Europe’s best player.
He’s still the only African-born player to ever receive the honor.In South Africa, George took his son to games and young Tim saw how strangers reacted to seeing his father, crowding around him, asking for photos.“You kind of realize, OK, yeah, he’s an important person,” Tim said.“That’s when I really found out, like, wow.”Tim was in his childhood home in Queens, New York, recalling this memory for an NBC News camera crew.
Over his shoulder was a photo of him.He’s seen lifting a trophy as a member of Juventus, the famous Italian soccer club.
Tim became a professional soccer player, too, following in his father’s footsteps.He’s carved out a career in Europe and is playing in his second World Cup, as a key reserve for the U.S.
men’s national team.Weah during the U.S.World Cup Group D match against Paraguay in Inglewood, Calif., on June 12.Sebastian Frej / Getty ImagesTim sat for this interview in May, for a profile to run during the tournament.
His parents were rummaging around upstairs somewhere.They’d both sit with the reporter when Tim was finished.
Every one of these stories seemed to come with the same tagline, though.“I always hear them say, ‘Timothy Weah, son of ...