The player in our spotlight this week is Reza Ghoochannejhad, striker for Team Melli.
Born in Mashhad, but raised in The Netherlands, Reza Ghoochannejhad was brought up in the Dutch football system with Cambuur and Heerenveen.
Reza caught the eyes of Iranian national team manager Carlos Queiroz during his spell with Sint-Truiden of the Belgian Premier League.
Ghoochannejhad made his debut for Team Melli against South Korea in a World Cup qualifier that was played in October 2012 in Tehran.
In June 2013, Team Melli faced South Korea in the final match day of 2014 World Cup qualifying.
Iran needed a victory and beat South Korea away from home and the only goal of the match was scored by Reza Ghoochannejhad at the hour mark.
The goal took Iran to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Reza Ghoochannejhad continued his excellent form and scored Iran’s only goal at the 2014 World Cup against Bosnia-Herzegovina in a 3-1 defeat.
Ghoochannejhad is the last of seven Iranian players to have scored in a World Cup and has been named in Iran’s recent 24-man squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
One more player will be cut, but Team Melli fans are confident of seeing Ghoochannejhad playing for Iran in Russia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efnh0U7oLw8&t=9s