Iran’s Taremi among 2023 AFC Asian Cup’s Players to Watch
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Strikers from Iran have long had to live in the shadow of those who have gone before them, such is the depth of historic talent to have led the line for Team Melli.
But over the last eight years Mehdi Taremi has established himself as a star in his own right for both club and country, joining the greats of Iranian football.
The former Persepolis and Al Gharafa forward is not only seen as one of the best of his generation; he is widely viewed as one of Asian football’s most potent attacking forces ever.
His statistics speak for themselves: no player turning up at the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 has scored more goals in the UEFA Champions League than Taremi’s nine in 24 games, the most ever netted in the competition by any player from Asia.
The 31-year-old is considered one of the most potent forwards in European club football, scoring regularly at domestic and continental level for Portuguese giants FC Porto since joining the club after a one-year stint with Rio Ave in 2020.
Taremi started his career with his hometown club, Shahin Bushehr, before a switch to Iranjavan, where the goals started to flow prompting Tehran giant Persepolis to sign the forward in 2014.
Eight goals in his debut season for the club saw Taremi earn a call-up for the national team and over the next three seasons, the striker was to grow ever more prolific, encouraging Al Gharafa to sign the then 25-year-old.
An 18-month stay in Qatar was followed by his switch to Rio Ave, where 21 goals in 37 games encouraged Porto to take him to the Estadio Dragao, where he has since won the 2021-22 league title and was last season’s leading scorer.
The goals have flowed for Iran, too, with 41 in 74 games placing him fourth on his country’s all-time list behind the iconic Ali Daei, legendary goal-scoring midfielder Karim Bagheri as well as his teammate and strike partner Sardar Azmoun.
He scored twice at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, striking twice against England having failed to find the net in his debut at the tournament four years earlier, the-afc.com wrote.
Taremi’s strengths lie in his ability to play as a central striker or in a deeper role behind a partner. Alternatively, he can also cut in from a position wide on the left, providing his team with significant tactical flexibility.
