Alireza Beiranvand found himself in an early test in match against Oman. In less than a minute, the referee awarded Oman a penalty kick and they could quickly score. Only the fingertips of Beiranvand helped Team Melli to keep the tie scoreless. It wasn’t the only time that Beiranvand helped his national team. His performance during the last World Cup, including stopping another penalty kick against Cristiano Ronaldo, brought hope to the Iranians. Now, they are dreaming again, and this time about first Asian title since 1976. Yet, for years he was far away from those dreams and hopes. No one thought that one day he will be the goalkeeper of the national team.
He was born to a nomadic family in Sarabias, Loristan. His life was based on the condition of his father’s flocks. He worked as a shepherd, and in his free time he played football as a goalie, and in a local game called Del Paran – a game based on throwing stones the furthest you can. This might explain his unique ability to send balls to great distances. In an interview with the Guardian, Beiranvand told journalist Benham Jafarzadeh how his father was furious when he decided to focus on football and leave the flock.
