Goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand emerged as the biggest hero for Iran in their goalless draw with Belgium. With one incredible save after another, he shut out a Belgian attack that included stars such as Kevin De Bruyne and Leandro Trossard.
Of 23 shots, Beiranvand kept out all seven that were on target. He saved two successive certain goals from Maxim De Cuyper in particular, turning the course of the match, the match report noted. At the final whistle, he was named player of the match.
This experienced Iran national-team goalkeeper currently plays his club football for Tractor. He has previously played for clubs including Persepolis, Boavista and Royal Antwerp, and has so far played more than 80 matches for the national team.
The 195-centimetre star was also Iran’s first-choice goalkeeper at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. But one of the most talked-about moments of his career came in the 2018 World Cup match against Portugal, where he saved a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo and drew attention around the world.
Here are five remarkable facts about Alireza Beiranvand’s life:
1. Risen from a nomadic Kurdish family: Beiranvand was born in Khorramabad in Iran’s Lorestan province. Growing up in a nomadic Kurdish Lak family, the goalkeeper also herded animals in hilly areas as a child. His journey from a shepherd’s life to the world stage has made him unique.
2. Guinness World Record holder: Beiranvand is famous for his long throws. He holds both the record for the farthest ball throw in football (200.14 feet) and the longest drop-kick (255.95 feet), both of which have been recognised in the Guinness World Records.
3. Outstanding figures against Belgium: In this match he made seven saves. He also completed 20 of 34 passes and found teammates with 11 of 24 long balls, highlighting his build-up ability alongside his goalkeeping.
4. A top star of Iranian football: Over the past decade, Beiranvand has had consistent success in Iranian domestic football. He was named the league’s best goalkeeper for four straight seasons and won Iran’s footballer of the year award in 2019, as well as earning international recognition.
5. Worldwide fame for saving Ronaldo’s penalty: By stopping Ronaldo’s penalty in the 2018 World Cup match against Portugal, Beiranvand became, overnight, the centre of attention in world football. That match ended in a 1-1 draw, and the save is still regarded as one of the most memorable moments of his career. This Iran goalkeeper is therefore not just a player but a story of inspiration, in which the tale of rising from a hill-country nomadic life to become a hero on the World Cup stage has been written anew.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report