In the second round of the AFC World Cup Qualifiers final stage, China will face Iran at home. After a shaky defensive performance in the opening match, the Chinese team will now come up against a powerful striker—Sardar Azmoun, the new spearhead of the Persian attack. At just 21, Azmoun has already made headlines by scoring against two European giants in this season’s Champions League play-offs.
Standing at 1.86 meters, Azmoun is often called the “Iranian Messi,” though his playing style is more reminiscent of Iran’s legendary Ali Daei. He began his career at Sepahan in Iran before moving to Russia’s Rubin Kazan in 2013, where he scored 5 goals in 27 appearances. Last season, on loan at Rostov, he netted 9 goals and provided 3 assists in 24 league matches—form that attracted interest from Premier League clubs such as Everton and Stoke City. Rubin Kazan also sought to bring him back, but Rostov exercised their purchase option in the loan contract. The move sparked a dispute that escalated to FIFA, where Rostov ultimately prevailed, securing the 21-year-old forward’s services.
Rostov’s second-place finish in the Russian Premier League earned them a Champions League qualifying spot. In the third qualifying round against Belgian powerhouse Anderlecht, Azmoun found the net. In the next round, facing Dutch giants Ajax, his goal opened the floodgates in a 4-1 home victory, sending Rostov into the group stage. These performances against established European clubs earned him widespread recognition and further attention from scouts across Europe.
Azmoun’s talent was already evident during the Asian Cup in Australia. In a friendly win over South Korea at just 19 years old, he scored his first senior international goal. During the Asian Cup, he netted a spectacular strike in a 1-0 win over Qatar—a move likened to Dennis Bergkamp’s artistry, involving a deft backheel flick while facing away from goal, a swift 360-degree turn, and a calm finish under pressure. In the quarter-final against Iraq, his precise header found the back of the net, showcasing his instinctive positioning and aerial dominance—qualities reminiscent of Ali Daei.
In the previous stage of World Cup qualifying, Azmoun scored 7 goals with ease, finishing fourth in the Asian scoring charts. To date, he has scored 15 goals in 19 senior caps for Iran, in addition to an extraordinary 30 goals in 29 matches for Iran’s U17, U19, and U21 teams. Late last season, he scored 6 goals in 5 consecutive Russian league matches, driving his market value on Transfermarkt from €2.5 million in January to €7 million.
With his recent Champions League play-off goals and the possibility of more in the current qualifiers, Azmoun’s value could rise even higher. For Chinese fans following the campaign through the Melbet App, the clash against Iran is a key test for Gao Hongbo’s defense. Against a striker with height, skill, and aerial power, the Melbet App will be the go-to source for real-time match stats, player data, and updates as Azmoun looks to extend his incredible scoring record on the road to Russia.