Mehdi Taremi #9

Profile

For years, it looked like Mehdi Taremi would be better known for off-field shenanigans – a four-month global ban from football related to a contract dispute with Turkish club Rizespor, a relationship with the famous Iranian actress Sahar Ghoreyshi – than for anything he might do on the pitch. But his move to Portuguese club Rio Ave in 2019 changed everything, and he later went to Porto and Inter, where he was able to fully showcase his abilities. He won league and cup titles with Porto and reached the Champions League final with Inter, while his spectacular bicycle kick for Porto against Chelsea was nominated for the Puskás Award and voted Goal of the Season in the Champions League. Taremi is a striker who excels at running behind defensive lines, and even minimal contact is often enough for him to go down and win penalties – a trait that has earned him a controversial reputation in Portugal. He is Iran’s captain and star. With two goals against England in the 2022 World Cup, he is already Iran’s all-time top scorer in the tournament.

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