Ramin Rezaeian #23

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No player in Iranian football embraces showmanship quite like Rezaeian. Having played for all three of Iran’s biggest clubs – Persepolis, Esteghlal and Sepahan – he rarely does anything without adding a touch of flair. He etched his name into Iranian football history at the 2022 World Cup by scoring Iran’s second goal against Wales. Still, judging by his pinned Instagram post, his encounter with Cristiano Ronaldo at the 2018 World Cup appears to hold even greater personal significance. Speaking about that match on a TV show, he said: “I really like Ronaldo, and it felt strange to play against him. I messed around with him a bit … I even told him: ‘If you don’t like it, switch sides and go play over there.’” Rezaeian is an attack-minded right-back, which often leaves space behind him for opponents to exploit.

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