Mikheil Meskhi

Mikheil Meskhi (Georgian: მიხეილ მესხი; Russian: Михаил Шалвович Месхи; born 12 January 1937 in Tbilisi; died 22 April 1991 in Tbilisi) was a Georgian footballer. Nicknamed the "Georgian Garrincha" for his dazzling wing play, he was a creative force on the left flank for the Soviet Union. He was invited by the World XI side via the USSR Football Federation who replied he was injured and couldn't play— he was not told of the invitation.[1]

Mikheil Meskhi
Mikheil Meskhi statue at Mikheil Meskhi Stadium
Personal information
Full name Mikheil Meskhi
Date of birth (1937-01-12)12 January 1937
Place of birth Tbilisi, USSR
Date of death 22 April 1991(1991-04-22) (aged 54)
Place of death Tbilisi, USSR
Height 1.69m (5ft 6¾in)
Position(s) Winger
Youth career
School No. 35 Tbilisi
– FShM Tbilisi
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1954–1969 FC Dinamo Tbilisi 284 (54)
1970 FC Lokomotivi Tbilisi 4 (0)
Total 288 (4)
National team
1959–1966 USSR 35 (4)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

He started playing football at the age of 14 in Tbilisi. Local well-known specialist Archil Kiknadze was Meskhi's first coach. His unique football talent was soon obvious in the 35th Football School boys team he played in.

During his career he played for Dynamo Tbilisi (1954–1969) and Lokomotiv Tbilisi (1970). He earned 35 caps for the USSR national football team, and participated in the 1962 World Cup. He also appeared on the Soviet squad for the first ever European Nations' Cup in 1960, which the Soviets won.

In 1998, Meskhi was voted the best player in the history of Georgian football, and a member of the 20th-century Georgian "Dream Team."[2]

References
  1. "Biography of Mikheil Meskhi". Retrieved 9 April 2020 – via YouTube.
  2. Goduadze, Lasha (2006). "Georgian Dream Team". Georgian Football Federation website. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 30 July 2008.


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