Former AC Milan and Chelsea striker George Weah has won the Liberia presidential run-off.

Regarded as one of the best forwards of his generation, the 51-year-old was named FIFA World Player of the Year and won the Ballon d'Or in 1995.

Weah, who also played for Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Monaco and Marseille, entered politics after his retirement in 2003 and had been serving as a senator in Liberia's parliament.

The country's electoral commission confirmed on Thursday that Weah had taken 61.5% of the vote from 98.1% of ballots cast, beating Vice President Joseph Boakai, who took 38.5% of the vote.

The result means that Weah will succeed Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to become president next month, the country's first democratic transition since 1944.

At international level, Weah was unable to help Liberia reach a World Cup but he did play in two Africa Cup of Nations, scoring against Mali in 2002.