Mikheil Meskhi (Georgian: მიხეილ მესხი; Russian: Михаил Шалвович Месхи; born 12 January 1937 in Tbilisi; died 22 April 1991 in Tbilisi) was a Georgia (country), Georgian football (soccer), 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.

Career

He started playing football at the age of 14 in Tbilisi. Local well-known specialist Archil Kiknadze (footballer), Archil Kiknadze was Meskhi's first coach. His unique football talent was soon obvious in the 35th Football Schoolboys 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 FIFA World Cup, 1962 World Cup. He also appeared on the Soviet squad for the first-ever 1960 European Nations' Cup, European Nations' Cup in 1960, which the Soviets won. In 1998, Meskhi was voted the best player in the history of Football in Georgia, Georgian football, and a member of the 20th-century Georgian "Dream Team."

References

External links

* *
Photo Archive
at National Parliamentary Library of Georgia *
Profile
at Biographical Dictionary of Georgia *
Profile
at Biographical Dictionary of Georgian Athletes *
Mikheil Meskhi
at FC Dinamo Tbilisi, FC Dinamo Tbilisi official website *
Profile and Statistics
at Dinamo-Tbilisi.ru *
Biography
at Biograph.ru *
Profile and Statistics
at FootballFacts.ru *

at Rusteam.Permian.ru 1937 births 1991 deaths Footballers from Georgia (country) Soviet footballers Soviet Union international footballers Honoured Masters of Sport of the USSR 1962 FIFA World Cup players 1960 European Nations' Cup players UEFA European Championship-winning players FC Dinamo Tbilisi players Meskhetians Association football wingers {{USSR-footy-bio-stub