Tim Weah achieves what his legendary father couldn’t

Timothy Weah made his first World Cup appearance for the United States in Monday’s 1-1 draw against Wales in Group B. The 22-year-old son of former Ballon d’Or winner George Weah capped the event by scoring the opener - making a great diagonal run, after a great assist from Christian Pulisic, he finished past goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey to give the Americans a 1-0 lead in the 36th minute.

New American hero

Unfortunately, the USMNT were not able to hold off Wales for the duration of the game - Gareth Bale scored a late penalty to make it 1-1 on full-time. Weah scored the first goal for the United States at a World Cup in eight years and in doing so, accomplished what his father couldn’t. George Weah is considered one of the greatest African players to have lived yet he never managed to play at the World Cup finals as his native Liberia never qualified for the tournament.

His son Tim was ecstatic to have scored on his World Cup debut, saying afterwards, “It is a dream come true for every striker, for every player to score in a World Cup and I did that tonight in front of our fans, my team mates and my family. Both of my parents are here but I haven’t spoken to them yet. The most important thing is to get the win and to help the team, a goal is just a goal.

“It is a great feeling. I think that when he [his father, George] played, he never got the opportunity, but I think he is living that experience through me and I am happy to make him proud, to make both parents proud. I talked to him the night before and he told me to pray. My dad was a great player and I am still trying to find my way,” added Weah.

George Weah is believed to be one of the best strikers to never play at the World Cup and he was unsuccessful to help Liberia qualify for the tournament. They fell just a point short in qualifying for the 2022 campaign, but throughout his son, Timothy, he is now living the World Cup experience and he is supporting his son in Qatar.