Footballers who ventured into politics

The phrase “Keep politics out of football” frequently appears on social media in reaction to political issues within and beyond the sport.

However, many former footballers ignore this advice, choosing instead to pursue careers in public service and politics, where they actively work to drive change from a position of leadership.

Here are some footballers who ventured into football after they retired.

George Weah

In 2017, George Weah became the first World Footballer of the Year to be elected president of Liberia, defeating then-Vice President Joseph Boakai. Weah, a legendary African player who won the Ballon d’Or in 1995 and was African Footballer of the Year in 1989 and 1995, had a stellar career with clubs like AC Milan, Chelsea, PSG, and Monaco.

After retiring in 2003, Weah entered politics with the Congress for Democratic Change but initially lost two presidential bids to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. In 2014, he was elected Senator of Montserrado County and won the 2017 presidential election. He served as president until 2023, when he was defeated by Boakai in a rematch.

Kakha Kaladze

Former Georgian defender Kakha Kaladze earned 83 caps for his country and played for AC Milan from 2001 to 2010. After retiring in 2012, he joined the Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia party and was elected to parliament. He was later appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy.

In July 2017, Kaladze resigned from his ministerial role to run for Mayor of Tbilisi. He won the election on October 22, 2017, with 51% of the vote and took office on November 13, 2017. He was re-elected in 2021 with 55% of the vote and will serve until the 2025 election.

Romario

Romário, a 1994 World Cup winner and prolific striker with 55 goals in 70 matches for Brazil, enjoyed a successful career with clubs like Barcelona and PSV Eindhoven.

After retiring in 2010, he entered politics, serving as a deputy and senator while advocating against football corruption and the 2014 World Cup. In 2017, he joined Podemos, and in 2021, he switched to the Liberal Party, endorsing President Jair Bolsonaro and criticizing rival Lula.

Pele

Regarded as the greatest footballer ever, Pelé is the only player to win three World Cups. Beyond his football legacy, he significantly impacted global issues after retiring. He served as a UNESCO goodwill ambassador, a UN ambassador for ecology, and Brazil’s Extraordinary Minister for Sport.

The “Pelé law” against corruption in Brazilian sport was named in his honor. In 2006, he spoke at the World Economic Forum on sports’ role in development. In 2012, he received an honorary degree from the University of Edinburgh for his humanitarian and environmental contributions.

Socrates

Socrates, known for his elegant play for Brazil and various Brazilian clubs, earned the nickname “Doctor Socrates” due to his medical degree and political activism. Recognizable by his beard and headband, he became a symbol of cool and a political figure.

At Corinthians, he co-founded the Corinthians Democracy movement, opposing Brazil’s military regime and supporting democracy by wearing “Democracia” shirts. He also backed the Diretas Já movement for direct presidential elections and even considered moving to Italy if reforms didn’t happen. Socrates exemplified how a football star could leverage their influence for political and social causes.

Hakan Sukur

Hakan Şükür, one of Turkey’s greatest footballers with 51 goals in 112 national team appearances and Galatasaray’s all-time top scorer with 288 goals, was elected to the Turkish parliament in 2011 with the ruling Justice and Development Party. He resigned from the party in 2013 but remained an independent MP.

In 2016, Şükür went into exile after being accused of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Twitter and allegedly being linked to the Gulen movement, deemed a terrorist organization in Turkey. His fall from grace was marked by an arrest warrant and the revocation of his medals in July 2017. He now resides in the USA.

Lilian Thuram

Lilian Thuram earned 142 caps for France between 1994 and 2008, playing a crucial role in their 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship victories. His club career was equally notable, with stints at Monaco, Parma, Juventus, and Barcelona.

In 2005, Thuram criticized Nicolas Sarkozy after the minister referred to low-income residents as “scum” during the French riots. Although Sarkozy later offered him a position as diversity minister, Thuram declined. His two sons, Marcus and Khéphren, are professional footballers who play for Inter Milan and Juventus, respectively.

Zico

One of Brazil’s greatest players, Zico was a key figure in the iconic 1982 World Cup team and achieved legendary status at Flamengo, with notable stints in Italy and Japan. In 1990, he became Brazil’s sports minister, introducing football reforms bu

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