An ever-present in Foolad’s watertight defense, 25-year-old center-back Aghasi was a key component in a side that reached the AFC Champions League knockout rounds for just the second time and first since 2014.

Just one team, Saudi Arabia’s Al Shabab, conceded fewer goals than Foolad, with Aghasi part of a backline that kept four clean sheets in six games as the Iranians advanced to the Round of 16 despite scoring just five goals.

Foolad is scheduled to play Saudi Arabian team Al-Faisaly in February at the 2022 AFC Champions League Round of 16.