Africa's sole Ballon d'Or winner, Gerorge Weah, declares his intention to run for Liberian Presidency

Former Chelsea, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain striker George Weah will run for President in his native Liberia  come 2017, it has been announced. He announced he will run for the country's number 1 position for the second time. He said he had the 'vision' to transform the African nation.

The 1995 FIFA World Player of the Year has been heavily involved in politics since returning to the African country after ending his professional career at Al-Jazira in 2003.

While announcing his intentions to a number of supporters, the 3-time African Footballer of the Year said: ' Our gathering here today is about the future of our countryand our people. In the last ten years, our people have continued to live in abject poverty, education a mess, health delivery system a disaster, electricity and pipe-borne water elusive.'

Weah pictured with the Ballon d'or after winning it in 1995

'Like many of you, I have been a victim of poverty,' the 49-year-old added. 'There were times I didn't have school fees.'

This is the second time he is contesting, having lost out to incumbent President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in 2005. Sirleaf's second term in office is set to end in 2017. She is not eligible to contest for a third term as the constitution demands.

Weah is the only African to have won the Ballon d'Or and became the first non-European to win the award after the rules of eligibility were changed in 1995.