In Iran's tense Group G encounter against Belgium at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 21 at SoFi Stadium, Alireza Beiranvand once again shone as the hero.
The 33-year-old Tractor goalkeeper produced a stunning, match-defining save in the 59th minute, diving brilliantly to deny a powerful strike from Belgium's attack and preserve a hard-fought 0-0 draw.
Facing stars like Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, and a Belgian side reduced to 10 men after Nathan Ngoy's red card, Beiranvand commanded his penalty area with authority, making several key interventions and organizing Iran's resilient defense. His performance helped secure a vital point against one of the tournament favourites.
Beiranvand's stunning save to deny Maxim De Kuyper is the talking point,
as the veteran showcased his amazing reach, reflexes to stop the ball from going into the back of the net.
Alireza Beiranvand holds Two Guiness Records
Beyond his heroics in Los Angeles, Beiranvand is globally famous for his extraordinary arm strength. The 1.95m-tall custodian holds two official Guinness World Records.
Longest throw in a competitive match: 61.00 metres (vs South Korea, 2016 World Cup qualifier).
Longest drop kick: 78.01 metres (Persepolis vs Zob Ahan, 2019).
Who is Alireza Beiranvand? Iran's Goalkeeper Left Home at 12 for Football
A Remarkable Career in Brief
Born in 1992 into a nomadic Kurdish family, Beiranvand ran away at 12 to chase football in Tehran. After surviving homelessness and odd jobs, he switched to goalkeeping by chance and rose through Naft Tehran to become a legend at Persepolis, winning multiple league titles.
Brief European spells at Royal Antwerp and Boavista added experience before returning home. With nearly 90 caps for Iran, including memorable penalty saves against Cristiano Ronaldo in 2018, he remains the national team's undisputed No.1.
