Ali Daei is an Iranian former professional association football forward who formerly held the record of the all-time men's international top goalscorer, with 108 goals in 148 appearances between 1993 and 2006.[1] [2] He was originally credited with scoring 109 goals in 149 appearances for twenty years but, as of 2021, FIFA no longer recognises Iran's match against Ecuador's Olympic team on 12 January 2000 as official, therefore costing Daei one cap and one goal.[3] His achievement is listed in Guinness World Records.[4] On 28 November 2003, in an Asian Cup qualifier in Tehran against Lebanon, he scored his 85th international goal, elevating him past Hungarian footballer Ferenc Puskás to take the lead of the all-time list of scorers in international matches.[5] [6]
Daei was called up to join the Iran national football team (also known as Team Melli) on 6 June 1993 in the 1993 ECO Cup tournament held in Tehran, where he made his debut in a match against Pakistan. His first international goal came in a 6–0 victory over Chinese Taipei on 25 June 1993 during qualification for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. On 1 March 2006, his final goal came in a 3–2 victory over Costa Rica in a friendly match.[7] His final appearance for Iran was in the 2006 FIFA World Cup against Angola on 21 June 2006 in the group stage.[8]
He scored eight international hat-tricks. On 10 June 1996, he scored his first international hat-trick, in an 8–0 win over Nepal at Azadi Stadium in Tehran. On 17 November 2004, he scored the last one against Laos in a 2006 FIFA World Cup Qualification match, giving him 102 goals and making him the first male player to score 100 goals in international football.[9]
He scored 36 goals in FIFA World Cup qualification matches, 23 goals in AFC Asian Cup qualification games and 9 goals in Asian Games, as well as 14 goals in AFC Asian Cup Finals. The remainder of his goals, 27, were scored in friendly matches. He scored eight goals against two opposition teams, the Maldives and Laos, his highest tally against any country. He scored 44 international goals at the Azadi Stadium, his most at a single ground.[10]
Scores and results list Iran's goal tally first.[10]
Indicates goal was scored from a penalty kick | ||
Indicates Iran national football team won the match | ||
Indicates the match ended in draw | ||
Indicates Iran national football team lost the match |
Date | Cap | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 25 June 1993 | 6 | Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran | align=center | 3–0 | align=center | [11] | |||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 2 | 4 July 1993 | 9 | Abbasiyyin Stadium, Damascus, Syria | align=center | 3–0 | rowspan="2" style="text-align:center" | [12] | ||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 3 | align=center | 4–0 | |||||||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 4 | 18 October 1993 | 13 | Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar | align=center | 2–0 | align=center | [13] | ||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 5 | 22 October 1993 | 14 | align=center | 1–1 | align=center | [14] | |||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 6 | 25 October 1993 | 15 | align=center | 1–1 | rowspan="2" style="text-align:center" | [15] | |||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 7 | align=center | 2–1 | |||||||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 8 | 30 May 1996 | 21 | Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium, Kuwait City, Kuwait | align=center | 1–1 | rowspan="2" style="text-align:center" | [16] | ||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 9 | align=center | 2–1 | |||||||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 10 | 10 June 1996 | 23 | Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran | align=center | 2–0 | rowspan="4" style="text-align:center" | [17] | ||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 11 | align=center | 3–0 | |||||||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 12 | align=center | 7–0 | |||||||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 13 | align=center | 8–0 | |||||||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 14 | 12 June 1996 | 24 | align=center | 1–0 | rowspan="5" style="text-align:center" | [18] | |||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 15 | align=center | 3–0 | |||||||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 16 | align=center | 4–0 | |||||||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 17 | align=center | 6–0 | |||||||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 18 | align=center | 7–0 | |||||||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 19 | 14 June 1996 | 25 | align=center | 1–0 | align=center | [19] | |||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 20 | 19 June 1996 | 27 | Sultan Qaboos Stadium, Muscat, Oman | align=center | 1–0 | align=center | [20] | ||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 21 | 21 June 1996 | 28 | align=center | 1–0 | align=center | [21] | |||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 22 | 5 December 1996 | 30 | Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates | align=center | 1–2 | align=center | [22] | ||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 23 | 8 December 1996 | 31 | align=center | 3–0 | align=center | [23] | |||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 24 | 11 December 1996 | 32 | align=center | 1–0 | align=center | [24] | |||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 25 | 16 December 1996 | 33 | align=center | 3–2 | rowspan="4" style="text-align:center" | [25] | |||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 26 | align=center | 4–2 | |||||||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 27 | align=center | 5–2 | |||||||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 28 | align=center | 6–2 | |||||||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 29 | 21 December 1996 | 35 | Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | align=center | 1–1 | align=center | [26] | ||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 30 | 2 June 1997 | 36 | Abbasiyyin Stadium, Damascus, Syria | align=center | 14–0 | rowspan="2" style="text-align:center" | [27] | ||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 31 | align=center | 15–0 | |||||||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 32 | 4 June 1997 | 37 | align=center | 3–0 | align=center | [28] | |||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 33 | 6 June 1997 | 38 | align=center | 1–0 | align=center | [29] | |||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 34 | 11 June 1997 | 40 | Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran | align=center | 3–0 | rowspan="2" style="text-align:center" | [30] | ||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 35 | align=center | 6–0 | |||||||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 36 | 3 October 1997 | 45 | align=center | 1–0 | align=center | [31] | |||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 37 | 17 October 1997 | 46 | align=center | 4–0 | align=center | [32] | |||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 38 | 16 November 1997 | 50 | Larkin Stadium, Johor Bahru, Malaysia | align=center | 2–1 | align=center | [33] | ||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 39 | 5 December 1998 | 59 | Sri Nakhon Lamduan Stadium, Sisaket, Thailand | align=center | 5–1 | rowspan="2" style="text-align:center" | [34] | ||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 40 | align=center | 6–1 | |||||||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 41 | 8 December 1998 | 60 | Supachalasai Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand | align=center | 1–0 | align=center | [35] | ||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 42 | 10 December 1998 | 61 | align=center | 1–0 | rowspan="2" style="text-align:center" | [36] [37] | |||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 43 | align=center | 5–0 | |||||||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 44 | 12 December 1998 | 62 | align=center | 1–1 | align=center | [38] | |||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 45 | 14 December 1998 | 63 | align=center | 2–0 | rowspan="3" style="text-align:center" | [39] | |||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 46 | align=center | 3–0 | |||||||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 47 | align=center | 4–0 | |||||||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 48 | 4 June 1999 | 67 | Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton, Canada | align=center | 1–0 | align=center | [40] | ||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 49 | 8 September 1999 | 69 | International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama, Japan | align=center | 1–1 | align=center | Friendly | [41] | |
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 50 | 9 January 2000 | 71 | Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, United States | align=center | 1–1 | align=center | [42] | ||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | — | 12 January 2000 | 72 | Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, United States | align=center | 1–0 | align=center | Unofficial Friendly | [43] | |
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 51 | 31 March 2000 | 73 | Al-Hamadaniah Stadium, Aleppo, Syria | align=center | 5–0 | rowspan="3" style="text-align:center" | [44] | ||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 52 | align=center | 6–0 | |||||||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 53 | align=center | 7–0 | |||||||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 54 | 2 April 2000 | 74 | align=center | 1–0 | align=center | [45] | |||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 55 | 9 April 2000 | 76 | Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran | align=center | 3–0 | align=center | [46] | ||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 56 | 13 April 2000 | 78 | align=center | 3–0 | align=center | [47] | |||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 57 | 7 June 2000 | 79 | align=center | 1–1 | align=center | [48] [49] | |||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 58 | 9 June 2000 | 80 | align=center | 2–1 | align=center | [50] | |||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 59 | 27 September 2000 | 82 | Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar | align=center | 1–0 | rowspan="2" style="text-align:center" | Friendly | [51] | |
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 60 | align=center | 2–0 | |||||||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 61 | 12 October 2000 | 83 | Sports City Stadium, Beirut, Lebanon | align=center | 4–0 | align=center | [52] | ||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 62 | 15 October 2000 | 84 | align=center | 1–1 | align=center | [53] | |||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 63 | 18 October 2000 | 85 | Saida Municipal Stadium, Sidon, Lebanon | align=center | 1–0 | align=center | [54] | ||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 64 | 24 November 2000 | 87 | Takhti Stadium, Tabriz, Iran | align=center | 7–0 | rowspan="4" style="text-align:center" | [55] | ||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 65 | align=center | 10–0 | |||||||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 66 | align=center | 15–0 | |||||||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 67 | align=center | 18–0 | |||||||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 68 | 28 November 2000 | 88 | align=center | 1–0 | align=center | [56] | |||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 69 | 19 January 2001 | 89 | Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran | align=center | 1–0 | align=center | Ancient Civilization Cup | [57] | |
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 70 | 8 August 2001 | 91 | align=center | 4–0 | align=center | [58] | |||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 71 | 10 August 2001 | 92 | align=center | 3–0 | rowspan="2" style="text-align:center" | [59] | |||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 72 | align=center | 4–0 | |||||||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 73 | 24 August 2001 | 94 | align=center | 1–0 | rowspan="2" style="text-align:center" | [60] | |||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 74 | align=center | 2–0 | |||||||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 75 | 7 September 2001 | 96 | Al-Shaab Stadium, Baghdad, Iraq | align=center | 2–1 | align=center | [61] | ||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 76 | 28 September 2001 | 98 | Prince Abdullah al-Faisal Stadium, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | align=center | 1–1 | align=center | [62] | ||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 77 | 21 October 2001 | 101 | Bahrain National Stadium, Manama, Bahrain | align=center | 1–2 | align=center | [63] | ||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 78 | 31 October 2001 | 102 | Al-Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | align=center | 1–0 | align=center | [64] | ||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 79 | 21 August 2002 | 107 | NSC Olimpiyskiy, Kyiv, Ukraine | align=center | 1–0 | align=center | Friendly | [65] | |
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 80 | 19 September 2002 | 108 | Takhti Stadium, Tabriz, Iran | align=center | 1–1 | align=center | [66] | ||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 81 | 5 September 2003 | 111 | Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran | align=center | 1–1 | rowspan="2" style="text-align:center" | [67] | ||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 82 | align=center | 4–1 | |||||||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 83 | 19 November 2003 | 115 | Municipal Stadium, Beirut, Lebanon | align=center | 1–0 | align=center | [68] | ||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 84 | 28 November 2003 | 116 | Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran | align=center | 1–0 | align=center | [69] | ||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 85 | 2 December 2003 | 117 | Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium, Kuwait City, Kuwait | align=center | 1–3 | align=center | Friendly | [70] | |
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 86 | 18 February 2004 | 118 | Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran | align=center | 3–0 | align=center | [71] | ||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 87 | 31 March 2004 | 119 | Laos National Stadium, Vientiane, Laos | align=center | 1–0 | rowspan="2" style="text-align:center" | [72] | ||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 88 | align=center | 2–0 | |||||||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 89 | 17 June 2004 | 121 | Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran | align=center | 1–0 | rowspan="3" style="text-align:center" | [73] [74] | ||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 90 | align=center | 2–0 | |||||||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 91 | align=center | 3–0 | |||||||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 92 | 21 June 2004 | 122 | align=center | 1–0 | align=center | [75] | |||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 93 | 25 June 2004 | 124 | align=center | 2–1 | align=center | [76] | |||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 94 | 20 July 2004 | 125 | Chongqing Olympic Sports Center, Chongqing, China | align=center | 3–0 | align=center | [77] | ||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 95 | 6 August 2004 | 130 | Workers Stadium, Beijing, China | align=center | 3–2 | rowspan="2" style="text-align:center" | [78] | ||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 96 | align=center | 4–2 | |||||||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 97 | 8 September 2004 | 131 | Amman International Stadium, Amman, Jordan | align=center | 2–0 | align=center | [79] | ||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 98 | 17 November 2004 | 132 | Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran | align=center | 1–0 | rowspan="4" style="text-align:center" | [80] | ||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 99 | align=center | 2–0 | |||||||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 100 | align=center | 3–0 | |||||||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 101 | align=center | 4–0 | |||||||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 102 | 18 December 2004 | 133 | align=center | 1–0 | align=center | Friendly | [81] | ||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 103 | 2 February 2005 | 134 | align=center | 1–1 | align=center | [82] | |||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 104 | 17 August 2005 | 140 | International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama, Japan | align=center | 1–2 | align=center | [83] | ||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 105 | 24 August 2005 | 141 | Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran | align=center | 3–0 | align=center | Friendly | [84] | |
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 106 | 13 November 2005 | 142 | align=center | 1–0 | align=center | [85] | |||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 107 | 22 February 2006 | 143 | align=center | 4–0 | align=center | [86] | |||
scope=row style="text-align: center" | 108 | 1 March 2006 | 144 | align=center | 2–0 | align=center | Friendly | [87] | ||
Note: Daei was previously credited with scoring against Ecuador however FIFA no longer recognise this match as official as Ecuador played their Olympic team, rather than their full 'A' international side.[3]
Date | Venue | Opponent | Goals | Result | Competition | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 10 June 1996 | Azadi Stadium, Tehran | 4 – (14', 36', 84', 87') | 8–0 | 1996 AFC Asian Cup qualification | [88] | |
2 | 12 June 1996 | 5 – (30', 64', 65', 70', 77') | 7–0 | ||||
3 | 16 December 1996 | Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai | 4 – (66', 77', 82', 89' pen.) | 6–2 | 1996 AFC Asian Cup | [89] | |
4 | 14 December 1998 | National Stadium, Bangkok | 3 – (83', 88', 90') | 4–0 | 1998 Asian Games | ||
5 | 31 March 2000 | Al-Hamadaniah Stadium, Aleppo | 3 – (39', 61', 72') | 8–0 | 2000 AFC Asian Cup qualification | [90] | |
6 | 24 November 2000 | Takhti Stadium, Tabriz | 4 – (35' pen., 44', 52', 74') | 19–0 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification | [91] [92] | |
7 | 17 June 2004 | Azadi Stadium, Tehran | 3 – (15' pen., 61', 88') | 4–0 | 2004 WAAF Championship | ||
8 | 17 November 2004 | 4 – (7', 19', 27', 58') | 7–0 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification | [93] [94] |
Source:[10]
scope=col | Year | scope=col | Apps | scope=col | Goals |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
scope=row | 1993 | 16 | 7 | ||
scope=row | 1994 | 1 | 0 | ||
scope=row | 1995 | 0 | 0 | ||
scope=row | 1996 | 18 | 22 | ||
scope=row | 1997 | 17 | 9 | ||
scope=row | 1998 | 13 | 9 | ||
scope=row | 1999 | 5 | 2 | ||
scope=row | 2000 | 18 | 19 | ||
scope=row | 2001 | 16 | 10 | ||
scope=row | 2002 | 4 | 2 | ||
scope=row | 2003 | 9 | 5 | ||
scope=row | 2004 | 16 | 17 | ||
scope=row | 2005 | 9 | 4 | ||
scope=row | 2006 | 6 | 2 | ||
Total | 148 | 108 |
Competition | Goals | |
---|---|---|
Friendlies | 26 | |
AFC Asian Cup qualification | 23 | |
14 | ||
Asian Games | 9 | |
36 | ||
Total | 108 |
Goals | |||
---|---|---|---|
AFC | 24 | 95 | |
UEFA | 3 | 5 | |
CONCACAF | 4 | 4 | |
CAF | 3 | 3 | |
CONMEBOL | 1 | 1 | |
Total | 36 | 108 |
Opposition | Goals | |
---|---|---|
8 | ||
8 | ||
6 | ||
5 | ||
5 | ||
4 | ||
4 | ||
4 | ||
4 | ||
4 | ||
4 | ||
4 | ||
4 | ||
4 | ||
4 | ||
4 | ||
3 | ||
3 | ||
3 | ||
3 | ||
3 | ||
3 | ||
2 | ||
1 | ||
1 | ||
1 | ||
1 | ||
1 | ||
1 | ||
1 | ||
1 | ||
1 | ||
1 | ||
1 | ||
1 | ||
Total | 108 |