Former AC Milan forward and Liberia president George Weah and Liverpool legend Michael Owen are two latest former Ballon d’Or winners, after Ronaldinho, who will headline the 2024 Veterans Club World Cup (VCWC) that will take place in Kigali from September 1-10. ALSO READ: Gatete among team captains to headline 2024 veteran Clubs World Cup The pair were included in the latest list of 70 legends who were announced to feature in the maiden edition of the VCWC which is solely reserved for retired footballers. The list was announced during the second ‘Legends Reveal” event held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, on Friday, February 9. Weah, 57, is the first African former professional footballer to become a head of state, having served a Liberia president between 2018 and 2024. Widely regarded as one of the greatest African players of all time, Weah was named FIFA World Player of the Year and won the Ballon d'Or, becoming the first and only player to win these awards while representing an African country internationally. The award was courtesy of his outstanding performance with AC Milan when he finished the 1995 UEFA Champions League campaign as the top scorer. Owen, a former England international, also won the Ballon d’Or in 2001 after helping Liverpool win the UEFA Cup, FA Cup (with Owen scoring two late goals in the final) and Football League Cup. Aside Weah and Owen, German Jan Kohler, Australia's Mark Schwazzer, ex-Arsenal star Johan Djourou as well as retired Liverpool quartet Dietmar Hamann, John Arne Riise, Patrick Berger and Vladimir Smicer among prominent veteran players who make the list. Others include Sebastian Frey, Taye Taiwo, Wes Morgan, Brad Friedel and Juan Pablo Sorin among others. The current list, which includes 87 men and eight women from 49 nationalities, will attract Ballon D'or winners, World Champions, Olympic Champions and UEFA Champions League winners among others.
