Ramin Rezaeian is a name that may mean little to fans of Portuguese and European football, but the 36-year-old right-back is a true institution in Iran. With 73 caps for the Asian national team and stints at the three biggest Iranian clubs (Persepolis, Esteghlal, and Sepahan), the defender is considered one of the most eccentric players in the country. Interestingly, he has a peculiar story involving… Cristiano Ronaldo, of whom he is a self-proclaimed fan. Before etching his name in Iranian football history at the 2022 World Cup by scoring Iran’s second goal against Wales, he had a confrontation with Portugal’s captain at the 2018 World Cup, which seems to hold even greater personal significance, as it is one of the posts he has pinned on his personal Instagram profile. In discussing that match on a television program, he said: “I really like Ronaldo, and it was strange to play against him. I teased him a bit… I even told him: If you’re not enjoying it, switch sides and go play over there…” Rezaeian is an offensively-minded right-back, which often leaves space behind him for opponents to exploit. The veteran defender, who currently has a contract with Foolad, is once again participating in the final stage of a World Cup: he is included in the final list of coach Amir Ghalenoei for the ongoing tournament.
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