Ali Daei

Date of birth21 March 1969
Place of birthArdabil
NationalityIranian
Weight81 kg
Height1.92 m
PositionForward

Although FIFA later recognised the 89 goals scored by Malaysia's Mokhtar Dahari from 1972 to 1981, with his 85th goal scored in an Asian Cup qualifier against Lebanon on 28 November 2003, it was believed that Ali Daei had created a new world record for the most goals scored in international football which had been held by Hungary's Ferenc Puskas since 1956 (84 goals).

It appeared he had beaten the record nine days earlier with a penalty in an Asian Cup qualifying group game in Lebanon. However, Iran's previous game against Korea DPR in Tehran on 12 November 2003 had been abandoned due to crowd disturbances after his 52nd minute penalty had given them a 1-0 lead. As Korea DPR refused to continue, Iran were later awarded a 3-0 win and Ali's goal was expunged.

His subsequent world record of 109 goals scored in international 'A' games was exceeded by Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo against Republic of Ireland in September 2021.

Club history

Team Joined Left Loan / Trialist
Esteghlal 01 Jul 1987 01 Jul 1989
Tejarat und Taxirany Teheran 01 Jul 1989 01 Jul 1989
Bank Tejarat 01 Jul 1990 01 Jul 1995
Persepolis 01 Jul 1995 01 Jul 1996
Al Sadd 01 Jul 1996 01 Jul 1997
DSC Arminia Bielefeld 01 Jul 1997 01 Jul 1998
Bayern Munchen 01 Jul 1998 01 Jul 1999
Hertha BSC Berlin 01 Jul 1999 01 Jul 2002
Al Shaab 01 Jul 2002 01 Jul 2003
Saba Battery 01 Jul 2005 01 Jul 2006
Saipa 01 Jul 2006 30 Jun 2007

Club stats

Season Team Competition Apps Subs Goals Y R
1997-98 Asian XI Representative 1
1998-99 Bayern Munchen UEFA Champions League
1
1999-00 Hertha BSC Berlin UEFA Champions League 2
2
1999-00 World XI International Friendly 1
2000-01 Hertha BSC Berlin Bundesliga 4
18
3
2000-01 Hertha BSC Berlin UEFA Cup 4
1
2
1
2001-02 Hertha BSC Berlin Bundesliga 1
6
2001-02 Hertha BSC Berlin UEFA Cup
1


Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

Club matches

Date Match Result Competition Round
03 Jul 1997 FIFA v Asian XI L 3-1 Representative


Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

International stats

Season Team Competition Apps Subs Goals Y R
1992-93 Iran FIFA World Cup 2
1
1993-94 Iran FIFA World Cup 6
6
1995-96 Iran AFC Asian Cup 11
20
1995-96 Iran International Friendly 1
2
1996-97 Iran FIFA World Cup 5
1
6
1997-98 Iran Asian Games 4
5
1997-98 Iran FIFA World Cup 14
3
1
1997-98 Iran International Friendly 1
1998-99 Iran Canada Cup 3
1
1
1998-99 Iran International Friendly 2
1999-00 Iran A v Under-23 1
1
1999-00 Iran AFC Asian Cup 8
9
1999-00 Iran International Friendly 3
1
1999-00 Iran Kirin Cup 1
1
1999-00 Iran LG Cup Four Nations Tournament (Tehran) 1
1
2000-01 Iran Cup of Ancient Civilisations 1
1
2000-01 Iran FIFA World Cup 2
4
2000-01 Iran International Friendly 2
2
2001-02 Iran Asian Games 2
3
2001-02 Iran FIFA World Cup 11
6
2
2001-02 Iran International Friendly 1
2001-02 Iran Tehran Tournament 1
2
2002-03 Iran International Friendly 1
1
2002-03 Iran LG Cup 1
1
2003-04 Iran AFC Asian Cup 10
8
2003-04 Iran AFC-OFC Challenge 1
2003-04 Iran FIFA World Cup 3
3
2003-04 Iran International Friendly 2
1
2003-04 Iran LG Middle East / Africa Peace Cup 1
2004-05 Iran FIFA World Cup 6
5
2004-05 Iran International Friendly 2
2
2005-06 Iran AFC Asian Cup 1
1
2005-06 Iran FIFA World Cup 3
1
2005-06 Iran International Friendly 5
3


Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

International matches

Date Match Result Competition Round
23 Jun 1993 Iran v Oman D 0-0 FIFA World Cup Asia group B
25 Jun 1993 Iran v Taiwan W 6-0 FIFA World Cup Asia group B
04 Jul 1993 Taiwan v Iran W 0-6 FIFA World Cup Asia group B
16 Oct 1993 Iran v Korea Republic L 0-3 FIFA World Cup Asia final round
18 Oct 1993 Japan v Iran W 1-2 FIFA World Cup Asia final round
22 Oct 1993 Iraq v Iran L 2-1 FIFA World Cup Asia final round
25 Oct 1993 Iran v Korea DPR W 2-1 FIFA World Cup Asia final round
28 Oct 1993 Saudi Arabia v Iran L 4-3 FIFA World Cup Asia final round
30 May 1996 Kuwait v Iran W 1-2 International Friendly
10 Jun 1996 Iran v Nepal W 8-0 AFC Asian Cup Qualifying group 5
12 Jun 1996 Iran v Sri Lanka W 7-0 AFC Asian Cup Qualifying group 5
14 Jun 1996 Iran v Oman W 2-0 AFC Asian Cup Qualifying group 5
19 Jun 1996 Iran v Nepal W 4-0 AFC Asian Cup Qualifying group 5
21 Jun 1996 Oman v Iran W 1-2 AFC Asian Cup Qualifying group 5
05 Dec 1996 Iran v Iraq L 1-2 AFC Asian Cup Group B
08 Dec 1996 Iran v Thailand W 3-1 AFC Asian Cup Group B
11 Dec 1996 Saudi Arabia v Iran W 0-3 AFC Asian Cup Group B
16 Dec 1996 Iran v Korea Republic W 6-2 AFC Asian Cup Quarter-final
18 Dec 1996 Saudi Arabia v Iran L 0-0 (3-4) AFC Asian Cup Semi-final
21 Dec 1996 Iran v Kuwait W 1-1 (3-2) AFC Asian Cup 3rd place
02 Jun 1997 Maldives v Iran W 0-17 FIFA World Cup Asia 1st round group 2
04 Jun 1997 Kyrgyzstan v Iran W 0-7 FIFA World Cup Asia 1st round group 2
06 Jun 1997 Syria v Iran W 0-1 FIFA World Cup Asia 1st round group 2
09 Jun 1997 Iran v Kyrgyzstan W 3-1 FIFA World Cup Asia 1st round group 2
11 Jun 1997 Iran v Maldives W 9-0 FIFA World Cup Asia 1st round group 2
13 Jun 1997 Iran v Syria D 2-2 FIFA World Cup Asia 1st round group 3
13 Sep 1997 China PR v Iran W 2-4 FIFA World Cup Asia 2nd round
19 Sep 1997 Iran v Saudi Arabia D 1-1 FIFA World Cup Asia 2nd round
26 Sep 1997 Kuwait v Iran D 1-1 FIFA World Cup Asia 2nd round
03 Oct 1997 Iran v Qatar W 3-0 FIFA World Cup Asia 2nd round
17 Oct 1997 Iran v China PR W 4-1 FIFA World Cup Asia 2nd round
24 Oct 1997 Saudi Arabia v Iran L 1-0 FIFA World Cup Asia 2nd round
31 Oct 1997 Iran v Kuwait D 0-0 FIFA World Cup Asia 2nd round
07 Nov 1997 Qatar v Iran L 2-0 FIFA World Cup Asia 2nd round
16 Nov 1997 Japan v Iran L 3-2 FIFA World Cup Asia play-off
22 Nov 1997 Iran v Australia D 1-1 FIFA World Cup Play-off Asia / Oceania
29 Nov 1997 Australia v Iran D 2-2 FIFA World Cup Play-off Asia / Oceania
03 Jun 1998 Croatia v Iran L 2-0 International Friendly
14 Jun 1998 Yugoslavia v Iran L 1-0 FIFA World Cup Finals group F
21 Jun 1998 USA v Iran W 1-2 FIFA World Cup Finals group F
25 Jun 1998 Germany v Iran L 2-0 FIFA World Cup Finals group F
13 Oct 1998 Kuwait v Iran L 3-0 International Friendly
05 Dec 1998 Iran v Laos W 6-1 Asian Games Group H
07 Dec 1998 Oman v Iran L 4-2 Asian Games Group 3 2nd round
10 Dec 1998 Iran v Tajikistan W 5-0 Asian Games 2nd round group 3
12 Dec 1998 Iran v China PR W 2-1 Asian Games 2nd round group 3
14 Dec 1998 Iran v Uzbekistan W 4-0 Asian Games Quarter-final
19 Dec 1998 Iran v Kuwait W 2-0 Asian Games Final
14 Mar 1999 China PR v Iran L 1-0 International Friendly
02 Jun 1999 Iran v Ecuador D 1-1 Canada Cup
04 Jun 1999 Canada v Iran W 0-1 Canada Cup
06 Jun 1999 Iran v Guatemala D 2-2 Canada Cup
08 Sep 1999 Japan v Iran D 1-1 Kirin Cup
10 Oct 1999 Denmark v Iran D 0-0 International Friendly
09 Jan 2000 Mexico v Iran L 2-1 International Friendly
12 Jan 2000 Iran v Ecuador W 2-1 B v OT
16 Jan 2000 USA v Iran D 1-1 International Friendly
31 Mar 2000 Maldives v Iran W 0-8 AFC Asian Cup Qualifying group 2
02 Apr 2000 Iran v Syria W 1-0 AFC Asian Cup Qualifying group 2
09 Apr 2000 Iran v Bahrain W 3-0 AFC Asian Cup Qualifying group 2
13 Apr 2000 Iran v Maldives W 3-0 AFC Asian Cup Qualifying group 2
07 Jun 2000 Iran v Egypt L 1-1 (7-8) LG Cup Four Nations Tournament (Tehran) Semi-final
09 Jun 2000 Iran v North Macedonia W 3-1 LG Cup Four Nations Tournament (Tehran) 3rd place
01 Sep 2000 Austria v Iran L 5-1 International Friendly
27 Sep 2000 Qatar v Iran W 1-2 International Friendly
12 Oct 2000 Lebanon v Iran W 0-4 AFC Asian Cup Group A
15 Oct 2000 Iran v Thailand D 1-1 AFC Asian Cup Group A
18 Oct 2000 Iran v Iraq W 1-0 AFC Asian Cup Group A
23 Oct 2000 Korea Republic v Iran L 2-1 AFC Asian Cup Quarter-final
24 Nov 2000 Iran v Guam W 19-0 FIFA World Cup Asia group 2
28 Nov 2000 Iran v Tajikistan W 2-0 FIFA World Cup Asia group 2
19 Jan 2001 Iran v China PR W 4-0 Cup of Ancient Civilisations
08 Aug 2001 Iran v Oman W 5-2 LG Cup Four Nations Tournament (Tehran) Semi-final
10 Aug 2001 Iran v Bosnia and Herzegovina W 4-0 LG Cup Four Nations Tournament (Tehran) Final
15 Aug 2001 Slovakia v Iran W 3-4 International Friendly
24 Aug 2001 Iran v Saudi Arabia W 2-0 FIFA World Cup Asia 2nd round group A
01 Sep 2001 Thailand v Iran D 0-0 FIFA World Cup Asia 2nd round group A
07 Sep 2001 Iraq v Iran W 1-2 FIFA World Cup Asia 2nd round group A
14 Sep 2001 Iran v Bahrain D 0-0 FIFA World Cup Asia 2nd round group A
28 Sep 2001 Saudi Arabia v Iran D 2-2 FIFA World Cup Asia 2nd round group A
05 Oct 2001 Iran v Thailand W 1-0 FIFA World Cup Asia 2nd round group A
12 Oct 2001 Iran v Iraq W 2-1 FIFA World Cup Asia 2nd round group A
21 Oct 2001 Bahrain v Iran L 3-1 FIFA World Cup Asia 2nd round group A
31 Oct 2001 United Arab Emirates v Iran W 0-3 FIFA World Cup Asia play-off
10 Nov 2001 Republic of Ireland v Iran L 2-0 FIFA World Cup Europe v Asia play-off
15 Nov 2001 Iran v Republic of Ireland W 1-0 FIFA World Cup Europe v Asia play-off
21 Aug 2002 Ukraine v Iran W 0-1 International Friendly
19 Sep 2002 Iran v Paraguay W 1-1 (4-3) LG Cup Final
28 Sep 2002 Afghanistan v Iran W 0-10 Asian Games Group E
01 Oct 2002 Iran v Lebanon W 2-0 Asian Games Group E
13 Aug 2003 Iran v Iraq L 0-1 LG Middle East / Africa Peace Cup
20 Aug 2003 Belarus v Iran L 2-1 International Friendly
05 Sep 2003 Iran v Jordan W 4-1 AFC Asian Cup Qualifying group D
12 Oct 2003 Iran v New Zealand W 3-0 AFC-OFC Challenge
19 Nov 2003 Lebanon v Iran W 0-3 AFC Asian Cup Qualifying group D
28 Nov 2003 Iran v Lebanon W 1-0 AFC Asian Cup Qualifying group D
02 Dec 2003 Kuwait v Iran L 3-1 International Friendly
18 Feb 2004 Iran v Qatar W 3-1 FIFA World Cup Asia qualifying group 1
31 Mar 2004 Laos v Iran W 0-7 FIFA World Cup Asia qualifying group 1
09 Jun 2004 Iran v Jordan L 0-1 FIFA World Cup Asia qualifying group 1
17 Jun 2004 Iran v Lebanon W 4-0 West Asian Football Federation Championship Group B
21 Jun 2004 Iran v Syria W 7-1 West Asian Football Federation Championship Group B
25 Jun 2004 Iran v Syria W 4-1 West Asian Football Federation Championship Final
20 Jul 2004 Iran v Thailand W 3-0 AFC Asian Cup Group D
24 Jul 2004 Oman v Iran D 2-2 AFC Asian Cup Group D
28 Jul 2004 Japan v Iran D 0-0 AFC Asian Cup Group D
31 Jul 2004 Korea Republic v Iran W 3-4 AFC Asian Cup Quarter-final
03 Aug 2004 China PR v Iran L 1-1 (3-4) AFC Asian Cup Semi-final
06 Aug 2004 Iran v Bahrain W 4-2 AFC Asian Cup 3rd place
08 Sep 2004 Jordan v Iran W 0-2 FIFA World Cup Asia qualifying group 1
17 Nov 2004 Iran v Laos W 7-0 FIFA World Cup Asia qualifying group 1
18 Dec 2004 Iran v Panama W 1-0 International Friendly
02 Feb 2005 Iran v Bosnia and Herzegovina W 2-1 International Friendly
09 Feb 2005 Bahrain v Iran D 0-0 FIFA World Cup World Cup - AFC 3rd Round
25 Mar 2005 Iran v Japan W 2-1 FIFA World Cup World Cup - AFC 3rd Round
03 Jun 2005 Iran v Korea DPR W 1-0 FIFA World Cup World Cup - AFC 3rd Round
08 Jun 2005 Iran v Bahrain W 1-0 FIFA World Cup World Cup - AFC 3rd Round
17 Aug 2005 Japan v Iran L 2-1 FIFA World Cup World Cup - AFC 3rd Round
24 Aug 2005 Iran v Libya W 4-0 International Friendly
13 Nov 2005 Iran v Togo W 2-0 Tehran Tournament 3rd place play-off
22 Feb 2006 Iran v Taiwan W 4-0 AFC Asian Cup Group B
01 Mar 2006 Iran v Costa Rica W 3-2 International Friendly
28 May 2006 Croatia v Iran D 2-2 International Friendly
31 May 2006 Iran v Bosnia and Herzegovina W 5-2 International Friendly
11 Jun 2006 Mexico v Iran L 3-1 FIFA World Cup Finals Group D
21 Jun 2006 Iran v Angola D 1-1 FIFA World Cup Finals Group D


Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.