Alireza Beiranvand #1

Profile

It has been nearly a decade since Beiranvand established himself as Iran’s first-choice goalkeeper and he gained widespread popularity after stopping Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty at the 2018 World Cup. In recent years, however, he has been surrounded by controversy owing to some unusual statements and his departure from Persepolis. His performances for the national team have declined since his move to Tractor, leading some critics to call for his removal from Iran’s starting lineup. His famous penalty save against Ronaldo has become so ingrained in popular culture that it has been recreated in recent years in two Iranian TV series, The Rebel and The Savage, as part of their storylines. In addition, following his standout performances at Russia 2018, a film based on his turbulent life story was produced – another strong showing this summer could inspire a sequel.

Key stats