About Gigi Meroni
Luigi "Gigi" Meroni (Italian pronunciation: [luˈiːdʒi ˈdʒiːdʒi meˈroːni]; 24 February 1943 – 15 October 1967) was an Italian professional footballer who played as a winger. Throughout his career, he drew comparisons to George Best due to his playing style, appearance, and lifestyle. He played 145 matches in Serie A, scoring 29 goals. At international level, he represented the Italy national team on six occasions between 1966 and 1967, scoring two goals, and took part in the 1966 FIFA World Cup. The transfer fee was 300 million lira, a record at the time for a player of only 21 years of age. Three other players tested positive for amphetamines and Meroni was suspended for the first five games of Serie A in 1963. His football career began in the Como youth sector, where he also made his debut for the first team, albeit in the second division.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.