Alireza Jahanbakhsh

Alireza Jahanbakhsh is a long-serving IR Iran attacker, a winger and forward with a goal threat from wide areas. The Dender man is 32 at kick-off and has been named in Amir Ghalenoei's provisional squad for what would be his fourth World Cup, a rare level of tournament experience.

Jahanbakhsh won the Eredivisie Golden Boot in 2017-18 with AZ Alkmaar before a spell in England with Brighton, and he brings 93 caps and 16 international goals into the squad. IR Iran qualified as winners of their Asian group on 25 March 2025 and are drawn with New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt in Group G. His delivery and finishing from the flank give Ghalenoei a senior option in attack, with the final 26 still to be confirmed.

Jahanbakhsh is a wide forward most at home on the right, with crossing, finishing and a goal threat cutting inside as the core of his game. He carries the ball at defenders, gets shots away from the edge of the box, and takes penalties for IR Iran, three of his 16 international goals having come from the spot. Years at the top level have added composure to the directness.

In Ghalenoei's 4-2-3-1, a side that sits deep and counters, Jahanbakhsh offers an outlet who can carry the ball forward and produce a finish when IR Iran break.

Goals from wide are Jahanbakhsh's calling card, with 16 for IR Iran, three of them penalties, and an Eredivisie Golden Boot already on his record. IR Iran fall into Tier 4, well below the premium picks, with each slot at £10m within the game's £200m card budget. In Group G they face Belgium, New Zealand and Egypt. At this price, a senior attacker who can finish and take penalties is a useful budget pick.