Fyodor Cherenkov was an outstanding talent, a football hero in the Soviet Union. He also suffered terribly with mental illness.

Fyodor Cherenkov was the ultimate Russian legend, the most idolised player of all time and the greatest artist imaginable. He was a ray of light in a ruthless and cynical world, writes Michael Yokhin.

Moscow police said on Tuesday they had detained a person who vandalised a statue of a renowned Soviet football player outside of Spartak stadium.

"England" was scrawled in red across the chest of a statue of legendary Spartak Moscow midfielder Fyodor Cherenkov ...

"England" was scrawled in red across the chest of a statue of legendary Spartak Moscow midfielder Fyodor Cherenkov ...

The statue was created in the image of Fyodor Cherenkov, regarded as the best player in the history of successful Russian Premier League team Spartak Moscow.

Fyodor Cherenkov was the ultimate Russian legend, the most idolised player of all time and the greatest artist imaginable. He was a ray of light in a ruthless and cynical world, writes Michael Yokhin.