Rouzbeh Cheshmi #15

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Standing 1.94m tall, this defensive midfielder is best known for his stern look and furrowed eyebrows – unless you mention the most unforgettable moment of his career: his stunning goal against Wales at the 2022 World Cup, a spectacular long-range strike from outside the penalty area. “I don’t even shoot in PlayStation,” Cheshmi said. “But when the ball came to me, I couldn’t hear anything – not the stadium, not even my teammates asking for a pass. It was truly God’s work.” A former captain of Iran’s Under-23 team, he is also capable of playing as a centre-back. Against England, also in 2022, he was placed in the heart of Iran’s five-man defense but delivered a poor performance: “Yes, I was responsible for two goals,” he admitted. Whether he has another difficult night or scores another decisive goal at the 2026 World Cup, Cheshmi now has even more important reasons to smile: his twins, Salman and Mila, who were born a few months after the Qatar World Cup.

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