Notwithstanding being relative minnows at the World Cup, Iran’s experience in the greatest phase of football has been sprinkled for certain essential minutes. From their 1-1 draw against Scotland in their absolute first outing at the finals to their profoundly huge 2-1 triumph over the USA in a politically-charged match 20 years later, Iran has made swells at the competition.
sports unfold looks at the top 10 players in the history of Iran:
They are yet to get further than the gathering stages, in any case, and will be desperate to work on that record at their fourth World Cup this mid-year in Brazil.
10. Javad Nekounam (2000-present, 136 caps, 37 goals)
The man captaining Iran into this late spring’s Reality Cup will be long-serving midfielder Javad Nekounam, who has previously amassed a mammoth 136 covers in a 14-year international vocation. Hardly any players were more instrumental in getting the group to the finals either, with Nekounam topping the goalscoring diagrams in Iran’s qualifying effort.
9. Hasan Roshan (1974-80, 48 caps, 13 goals)
Notwithstanding having a relatively short international vocation contrasted with a significant number of the names on this rundown, Hasan Roshan established a long-term connection with Iran and is still affectionately recalled in his nation of origin.
Breaking into the Taj Tehran – presently known as Esteghlal Tehran – side at the time of only 17, Roshan immediately set up a good foundation for himself as one of the group’s most significant players, helping them to the Iranian association title in 1975 and the Hazfi Cup in 1977.
8. Ahmad Reza Abedzadeh (1987-98, 79 caps, no goals)
Perhaps of the most well-known player in Iran’s new history, Ahmad Reza Abedzadeh charmed himself to allies for his exhibitions during the 1998 World Cup. While Group Melli neglected to move beyond the gathering stages in France, Abedzadeh’s presentations in objective guaranteed that they weren’t humiliated in only their second appearance at the finals.
7. Nasser Hejazi (1968-80, 62 caps, no goals)
Abedzadeh’s just opponent for the title of greatest goalkeeper in Iran’s history is Nasser Hejazi, who likewise came to far and wide attention with his exhibitions in a World Cup. Following the 1978 competition in Argentina, Hejazi got an offer from Manchester Joined together and trained with the club for a month, just for the Iranian Unrest to scupper his arrangements of a more drawn-out stay.
6. Karim Bagheri (1993-2010, 87 caps, 50 goals)
Indeed, even the most impassioned Charlton Athletic fan would be pardoned for not remembering Karim Bagheri, but rather the midfielder joined the Addicks for £400,000 in 2000 having dazzled director Alan Curbishley. Be that as it may, a combination of injuries, international cancel ups and the-field matters added to him just playing 15 minutes for the club.
5. Khodadad Azizi (1992-2006, 47 caps, 11 goals)
While Bagheri started the rebound against Australia in 1998, it was Khodadad Azizi who scored the equalizing objective that sent Iran to the World Cup. In that capacity, the diminutive striker will constantly have a spot in the hearts of Iranian fans, however, he was definitely something beyond a one-objective marvel.
4. Ali Parvin (1970-80, 76 caps, eight goals)
Perhaps of the greatest icon in the history of Iranian club Persepolis, Ali Parvin set up a good foundation for himself as a critical individual from the Iran side that kicked off something new by qualifying for the 1978 World Cup.
At the club level, the midfielder enjoyed 18 years as a player with Persepolis prior to managing them for a further 17 years and, surprisingly, acting as the group’s leader. During his playing days, he amassed four Iranian Football Association titles and three Hazfi Cups, as well as winning the Tehran provincial association multiple times with two unique clubs.
3. Mehdi Mahdavikia (1996-2009, 111 caps, 13 goals)
While Iran left the 1998 World Cup as the main obstacle, their presentation was by and large considered a triumph as they got their most memorable win at the finals and gave a decent record of themselves in the other two games. Mehdi Mahdavikia was broadly viewed as their best entertainer in those matches, to such an extent that he was nominated for the Top pick Group of the Competition.
2. Ali Karimi (1998-2013, 127 caps, 38 goals)
Seemingly the most skillful player Iran has at any point created, Ali Karimi’s ball control and mazy dribbling prompted him to be named the ‘Asian Maradona’ by fans. His count of 127 covers makes him the third-most noteworthy appearance producer in the national group’s history, behind just Javad Nekounam and Ali Daei.
1. Ali Daei (1993-2006, 149 caps, 109 goals)
While Karimi was more actually gifted than Ali Daei, the clinical striker’s record at the international level basically can’t be overlooked. He flaunts a one-of-a-kind spot in history as the top scorer in international football, overtaking the great Ferenc Puskas in 2003 preceding going on to turn into the main player to break into three figures.