The 32-year-old veteran is reaching the twilight of his international career, but what a way it would be to end it by lifting Iran’s first Asian Cup title in 43 years.
The Tractor Sazi midfielder has looked up for it in the early stages of the tournament being a physical presence of right side of the Iran midfield. He has already scored one goal in Team Melli’s 5-0 thrashing of Yemen.
The 32-year-old has made two starts in the tournament and but has played in 10 crosses in that time — more than any other Iran player.
Tom Rogic from Australia, Qatar’s Boualem Khoukhi, Javokhir Sidikov from Uzbekistan and Japanese Genki Haraguchi are four other top midfielders in the group stage.