33·Legends
‹ Iran's 33
Iran · 2002–14

Javad Nekounam

Icon CDM Right-footed
Rating
86
Caps
151
Goals
39
Life
1980
Clubs
Pas Tehran, Club Atlético Osasuna, Esteghlal
#6
Editorial rank of 33 for Iran
–
The people's rank, live from duel votes

Iran held Argentina goalless in Belo Horizonte on 21 June 2014 until Lionel Messi curled one in at the death, and the man wearing the armband through all 91 minutes was Nekounam. His 149 caps and 38 goals for Iran came alongside Asian Games gold in 2002 and the 2004 West Asian championship, a league title with Esteghlal in 2012-13, and 173 La Liga appearances across two spells at Osasuna. Career record: 151 caps and 39 goals for Iran; club career at Pas Tehran, Club Atlético Osasuna, Esteghlal.

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Career record

1998–2005Pas Tehran
2005–2006Al-Wahda S.C.C.
2006–2006Sharjah
2006–2012Club Atlético Osasuna
2012–2014Esteghlal
2014–2014Kuwait SC
2014–2015Club Atlético Osasuna
2015–2016Saipa
2016–todayAl-Arabi SC
Iran151 caps, 39 goals

Shared the era

Iran legends whose careers overlapped Nekounam's

The world's great CDMs

Around Nekounam in the almanac

One rank above: Parviz Ghelichkhani at #5.

One rank below: Karim Bagheri at #7.

Iran's editorial top five: Ali Daei · Ali Karimi · Ali Parvin · Khodadad Azizi · Parviz Ghelichkhani.