Daei Taremi Sardar

Iranian football is riding the crest of a wave at present. They have qualified for the last three FIFA World Cups in a row, and at the most recent one in Qatar, picked up a 2-0 victory against Wales that very nearly was enough to secure qualification to the knockout round. They have also reached the semifinals of the last two AFC Asian Cups and are well on their way to qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, currently sitting second in their group with a perfect two wins from two.

As such then, it goes without saying that Team Melli has had bags of talent over the years that have left an indelible mark on football in the country. But which players have scored more than anyone else while wearing the famous all-white shirt? Let's find out.

Ali Daei

Ali Daei's name is synonymous with Iranian football excellence and he’s without a doubt the greatest footballer the country has ever produced. The Ardabil-born striker played for a plethora of huge clubs including the likes of Bayern Munich - where he won the Bundesliga and reached the UEFA Champions League final in 1999 - as well as Hertha Berlin. While he bagged an impressive 134 goals throughout his club career, it was on the international stage where he truly shone.

Daei's football journey with Team Melli is nothing short of legendary. The giant striker's physical presence helped him on his way to a mighty 108 goals in 148 appearances, the most in his country's history by some distance. His goalscoring exploits led him to the record of most international goals of all time, a record that has since been surpassed by only Cristiano Ronaldo (132) and Lionel Messi (109). Esteemed company indeed. 

The former Arminia Bielefeld man's ability to find the back of the net was not just about power; it was a blend of technique, positioning, and an uncanny knack for being in the right place at the right time. His memorable performances include leading Iran to the 1998 FIFA World Cup, where his experience on the big stage was pivotal. His four-goal haul against South Korea in the 1996 Asian Cup quarter-finals is still celebrated as one of his greatest performances, and his exploits were a source of inspiration for future generations.

Sardar Azmoun

Following in Daei's footsteps, Sardar Azmoun has emerged as Iran's main man in recent times. The 29-year-old hitman made his name in Russia, bouncing around the likes of Rostov and Rubin Kazan before finding a home with Zenit St. Petersburg. In the second city, the "Iranian Messi" helped himself to 62 goals in 104 appearances, forming a lethal partnership with Russian striker and captain Artem Dzyuba. The prolific duo led the club to four straight Russian Premier League titles between 2019 and 2022, but global events forced Azmoun out of the club and onto Bayer Leverkusen.

During his time at the BayArena, the Iranian striker didn't reach the heights that he found in St. Petersburg. He could only manage five goals in 32 appearances across 18 months, which spelt the beginning of the end. While the reigning Bundesliga champions have been made a +300 contender by online soccer odds providers to retain the Meisterschale next term, Azmoun has since been shipped out of the club. After a year on loan with AS Roma, he now finds himself with Shabab Al Ahli in the United Arab Emirates and he has hit the ground running, scoring four goals in his first three games.

On the international stage, the 29-year-old has been a revelation. Since his debut as a teenager, Azmoun has bagged 53 goals in 87 appearances, a testament to his consistency over the last decade. The former Zenit star possesses the rare ability to read the game and exploit defensive weaknesses, often finding himself in the right position to score crucial goals, despite his lack of pace and power. His four goals in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup solidified his status as a key player for his country as he helped them to the semifinals.

Mehdi Taremi

Despite the aforementioned Azmoun's goal-scoring exploits, it is Mehdi Taremi who is arguably Iran's leading light at present. Throughout a blistering four-year stint with Portuguese outfit FC Porto, the talismanic attacker bagged a goal every two games, netting 91 times in 192 appearances and picking up the Primeira Liga title in 2022.

Despite being 32 years of age, he finally got his big-money move this summer, joining Italian champions Inter Milan on a free transfer, penning a three-year deal. He has made five appearances so far for the Nerazzurri but he is still waiting for his first goal. However, if his international career is anything to go by, he won't be waiting very long.

Taremi has helped himself to 49 goals in 92 national team appearances, continuing that one-in-two strike rate that he showed during his stint at the Estadio do Dragao. His technical skills, creativity, and ability to score from improbable positions have all contributed to his impressive goalscoring record, while his knack for scoring crucial goals has helped his country in their recent exploits on both the continental and the global stages. Now, he will be aiming to become a hero at the San Siro.

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