Iran might not be the biggest football nation globally, but there have been some great Iranian players over the years. This guide will look at the best Iranian players of all time.
A Word For The Current Players:
Iran currently has a whole host of excellent players who regularly compete in some of the top leagues in the world, and some of them can definitely expect to be in the best of all-time conversation by the time they retire. Jahanbakhsh, who has premier league experience, Sardar Azmoun, who is a highly regarded striker, and Mehdi Taremi, who has scored two goals in the champions league, will all be considered greats. It would be wise to bet on any of these players to get a big move in the future, and while you’re gambling, you should consider playing at Luckynuggetcasino.com.
Javad Nekounam (2000-present, 136 caps, 37 goals)
Nekounam is the second captain in the history of the national team, after Karim Bagheri. Nekounam was made part of Iran's 2006 World Cup squad and started all three games despite being suspended for his country's opening match versus Angola.
Hasan Roshan (1974-80, 48 caps, 13 goals)
Roshan was the top scorer in the 1976 AFC Youth Championship, and then became Iran's top goalscorer of all time with 13 goals in 12 matches. He helped Iran reach the World Cup in 1978 and scored three goals in that tournament. He has been retired from international football for over 30 years (and even though he is often mentioned as the best Iranian player of all time).
Ahmad Reza Abedzadeh (1987-98, 79 caps, 0 goals)
Abedzadeh is considered one of the best Iranian goalkeepers of all time. Although he was first exposed to world football in the 1987 FIFA World Youth Championship, his international career apparently started in 1988 after the death of Kazem Dejagah, where he replaced the seasoned international.
Nasser Hejazi (1968-80, 62 caps, 0 goals)
A well-known player, Nasser Hejazi was considered as one of the best left defenders in Asia. The most memorable moment of his career was leading Iran to their first-ever Asian Cup title in 1968, scoring a goal against Israel in the semifinals as they hosted the tournament. It was also his last match for Team Melli.
Karim Bagheri (1993-2010, 87 caps, 50 goals)
Often compared to Torpedo Moscow legend Oleg Blokhin, Karim Bagheri is one of the best Iranian footballers of all time. He was captain of Iran for most of his career and played at two editions of the World Cup: 1998 and 2006.
Khodadad Azizi (1992-2006, 47 caps, 11 goals)
Azizi is a retired Iranian professional football player. He was born on 11 April 1977 in Shiraz, Iran, and played for Sepahan from 1995–2006. Azizi was an attacking midfielder who can play as a second striker or a winger.
Ali Parvin (1970-80, 76 caps, 8 goals)
Ali Parvin scored 8 goals for Iran from 1970–80 and played at the 1978 World Cup. The most famous moment of his career was winning the Asian Cup title in 1976, and he scored the winning goal of that final match against Kuwait.
Mehdi Mahdavikia (1996-2009, 111 caps, 13 goals)
Mahdavikia is an Iran legend that was linked with a big-money move to the Premier League. Whilst his career in England never materialized, he became a hero at the German club, Hamburg.
Ali Karimi (1998-2013, 127 caps, 38 goals)
Karimi is a retired Iranian professional football player. He was a member of the Iran national football team from 1998 to 2013 and was the captain of Team Melli for several years.
Ali Daei (1993-2006, 149 caps, 109 goals)
Daei is a retired Iranian football player. He has played for club sides in Iran, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. As an international player, he scored 109 goals in 149 games between 1993 and 2006. This makes him the all-time leading scorer for Team Melli.