Alireza Beiranvand, the Iran keeper who shut out Belgium at the World Cup | OneFootball

Alireza Beiranvand made seven saves, including a stunning stop from Maxim de Cuyper on 59 minutes, to secure Iran a 0-0 draw with Belgium in Los Angeles. The 33-year-old with 88 caps was FIFA’s player of the match, famed for long throws.

"He asked me to work and even tore my clothes and gloves. I had to play barehanded several times." He said this in 2018 to the Guardian.

Raised in Lorestan in a nomadic shepherd family, he left for Tehran to keep playing.

He slept rough and took odd jobs from factories to car washes, pizza shops and cleaning. Naft Tehran released him after he trained, and was injured, with another team.

Recalled, he debuted in 2011 at 19. With him, Naft reached the Asian Champions League and the Cup final in 2015. Early that year he was capped and joined Persepolis at 24.

Across four years he played the 2018 World Cup, helped beat Morocco 1-0, saved a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty, and reached the continental final. In 2016 he set a 61 m hand-throw record.

Iran’s player of the year in 2019, he joined Antwerp in 2020 but could not unseat Jean Butez, making 12 appearances while the current Como keeper was injured. A spell at Boavista yielded 9 games, then he returned before the 2022 World Cup.

After two titles with Persepolis he moved to Tractor SC, leading them to a first crown in 2025. He remains Iran’s No 1 at this American World Cup.

Source: L'Équipe