Karim Bagheri vs Mehdi Taremi
Iran against Iran. The almanac states its case, the crowd votes, you decide.
Karim Bagheri
Iran · 1997–98 · CDM
- Almanac rating
- 86
- Rank in Iran
- #7 of 33
- Caps
- 87 · 50 goals
- Clubs
- Tractor, Keshavarz, Arminia Bielefeld
On 2 June 1997 he scored seven times against the Maldives in a World Cup qualifier, matching the record for a single qualifying match, and finished that campaign as the leading scorer across all six confederations with 19 goals. He ended with 50 goals in 87 caps, the most by any midfielder in international football, and won Asian Games gold in 1998 plus a run of league titles at Persepolis. Career record: 87 caps and 50 goals for Iran; club career at Tractor, Keshavarz, Arminia Bielefeld.
Mehdi Taremi
Iran · 2021–22 · ST
- Almanac rating
- 86
- Rank in Iran
- #9 of 33
- Caps
- 103 · 56 goals
- Clubs
- Persepolis, Al-Gharafa SC, FC Porto
April 2021, deep into stoppage time against Chelsea, he scored the overhead kick that UEFA later voted the Champions League goal of the season. Porto brought him a Primeira Liga title, two Portuguese cups and the 2022-23 Bola de Prata for 22 league goals; before that came Persepolis league titles and back-to-back Iranian golden boots, and after it Inter Milan and 60 goals for Iran. Career record: 103 caps and 56 goals for Iran; club career at Persepolis, Al-Gharafa SC, FC Porto.
The verdict
The almanac cannot separate them: both are rated 86.
Fans have not settled this one yet. Cast the first vote in the duels.