Felix Michel Melki

George Felix Robert Michel Melki (جورج فيليكس روبير ميشيل ملكي, ; born 23 July 1994), known as Felix Michel Melki, is a professional footballer who plays as a defender or midfielder for club Ahed and the Lebanon national team.

After following his father's tracks playing at Syrianska for three years, Michel Melki moved to Turkish side Eskişehirspor in 2016. In 2018, he moved back to Sweden signing for AFC Eskilstuna and helped them gain promotion back to the Allsvenskan. In 2019 he transferred to Swedish champions AIK, who loaned him out to Sarpsborg 08 in Norway in 2021, before returning to AFC Eskilstuna the same year. In January 2023, Michel Melki moved to Lebanese side Ahed.

Born in Sweden, in 2018 Michel Melki opted to represent Lebanon at senior level, on account of having a Lebanese paternal grandfather. He played in all three group stage games for "the Cedars" at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup; he scored against North Korea and was named Man of the Match.

Syrianska
At age seven Michel began his football career in the youth team of the Swedish side Syrianska FC, the club of the local Syriac community. Starting from 2013, he played in the first team and made some sporadic appearances in the league and domestic cup. He only began to establish himself as a starter in the 2016 season, making 10 league appearances.

Eskişehirspor
In August 2016 he moved to the TFF First League side Eskişehirspor. Michel played 10 league matches for the Turkish club.

AFC Eskilstuna
In March 2018 Michel signed for Superettan side AFC Eskilstuna, where he would be reunited with his brother Alexander. He made his debut on 24 April, as a 61st-minute substitute in a 2–0 win to Helsingborgs IF. In his first season, he made 21 league appearances and one cup appearance; he helped his side gain promotion to the Allsvenskan through the play-offs.

In the 2019 season, he started in 13 league and cup matches. Michel Melki scored the decisive goal in a penalty shoot-out against AIK, in the semi-finals of the Svenska Cupen on 17 March. He played the whole 90 minutes in the final, where they lost 3–0 to BK Häcken on 30 May.

AIK
On 25 July 2019, Allsvenskan champions AIK announced the signing of Michel on a three-year deal. He made his league debut on 27 July 2019 as an attacking midfielder, in a 2–0 away win against IK Sirius. On 18 August 2019, Michel was placed as a striker against Kalmar, losing 2–1 at home. With eight league appearances (three as a starter), Michel helped his side reach fourth place in the 2019 Allsvenskan.

In the 2020 season, Michel Melki played all three Svenska Cupen group stage games, helping his side qualify for the quarter-finals. He played 11 games for AIK in 2020, six as a starter. In 2021, Michel Melki played two Svenska Cupen games.

Loan to Sarpsborg 08
On 10 May 2021, Michel Melki was loaned out to Norwegian Eliteserien side Sarpsborg 08 until 2 August. He made his debut in the first match of the 2021 season on 16 May, as a second-half substitute in a 0–0 draw against Haugesund. He ended his loan with only one appearance, and returned to AIK.

AFC Eskilstuna
Michel Melki returned to AFC Eskilstuna in the Superettan on 11 August 2021, joining them on loan until the end of the 2021 season. He made his debut on 14 August, as a 76th-minute substitute in a 4–1 win against Norrby. Michel Melki's first goal came on 22 August, scoring a backheel volley from a corner against GIF Sundsvall; the game ended in a 3–1 defeat.

Following the end of his loan period, AIK re-loaned Michel Melki to AFC Eskilstuna for a further six months on 11 January 2022, until the end of his contract with AIK. On 10 July, he joined AFC Eskilstuna permanently on a contract valid until the end of the 2022 season.

Ahed
On 5 January 2023, Michel Melki joined Ahed ahead of the second round of the 2022–23 Lebanese Premier League.

International career
In 2018, Michel Melki acquired a Lebanese citizenship due to his family's origins being from Lebanon, making him eligible for the Lebanon national team. He made his international debut for Lebanon on 15 November 2018, playing the whole 90 minutes in a goalless draw against Uzbekistan.

Michel Melki was called up for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, alongside his brother Alexander, one month later. On 17 January 2019, he scored the equaliser in an eventual 4–1 win against North Korea in the final group stage game, and was nominated Man of the Match for his performance.

In December 2023, Michel Melki was initially included in the Lebanese squad for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. However, he withdrew injured in January 2024 before the competition and was replaced by Khalil Khamis.

Style of play
A versatile defensive-minded player, Michel Melki can mainly be deployed as either a centre-back or a defensive midfielder. His main characteristics are his physicality and his ball-winning capabilities. While at AIK, Michel Melki was also used as an attacking midfielder.

Personal life
Michel Melki was born in Sweden to a Swedish mother, Carina, and a Syriac father, Robert, who played for Syrianska, a Swedish club founded by Syriac immigrants. He has an older brother, Alexander, who also plays football.

In an interview with Aftonbladet, Alexander mentioned that despite their Syriac roots, the two brothers' connection to Lebanon is through their grandfather, George Michel Melki, who lived there before moving to Sweden in 1967 as one of the first refugees from the Middle East to Sweden. Two of their father's sisters were born in Lebanon.

International

 * Scores and results list Lebanon's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Michel Melki goal.

Honours
AFC Eskilstuna
 * Svenska Cupen runner-up: 2018–19

Ahed
 * Lebanese Premier League: 2022–23
 * Lebanese Federation Cup: 2023
 * Lebanese FA Cup runner-up: 2022–23, 2023–24
 * Lebanese Super Cup runner-up: 2023
 * AFC Cup runner-up: 2023–24