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Meet Iran's world record-holding goalie, Alireza Beiranvand
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- Meet Iran's world record-holding goalie, Alireza Beiranvand
Meet Iran's world record-holding goalie, Alireza Beiranvand originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
When Iran takes the pitch at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, it will do so with a long-tenured goalkeeper.
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Alireza Beiranvand has started more than 80 times for the Iranian national team between the posts, including at two prior World Cups.
The Iran journey at this tournament begins Monday night against New Zealand , and a win in that match could give Iran hopes of making it out of the group.
Beiranvand is a fascinating story who could prove himself worth knowing as the World Cup goes on.
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Who is Iran's goalie?
Alireza is the goalie for Iran, a 33-year old who was born in Khorramabad.
He plays his professional club football for the club called Tractor, which competes in the Persian Gulf Pro League.
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He has spent most of his career in that league, although he did have a stint with Royal Antwerp in Belgium , as well.
"First playing as striker, Beiranvand was converted to goalkeeper and ran away to Tehran at the age of 12 to chase a football dream," The Athletic wrote before the 2026 World Cup. "First homeless, Beiranvand worked in a factory, a car wash as a specialist SUV cleaner due to his 6ft 4in (194cm) height, a pizza restaurant and as a street cleaner. He earned a contract with Naft-e-Tehran in 2011 and has won seven league titles in Iran (six with Persepolis, the latter with current side Tractor in 2024-25), also playing in Belgium with Antwerp and Portugal with Boavista. Now 33, he has 84 caps for Team Melli."
Most fascinating: He holds two world records.
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Alireza Beiranvand world records
He has two spots in the Guinness Book of Records.
"The first for the longest throw (61.0026m, while playing for Iran against South Korea on October 11, 2016), the second for the longest drop kick (78.014m, playing for Persepolis against Zob Ahan on April 17, 2019)," writes The Athletic .
Clearly, Beiranvand has incredible power in his limbs.
He'll try to put that on display, as well as hoped-for stoutness in defending his net, at this World Cup in North America.
