The name ‘Lionel Messi’ is quite well-known in the world of football. However, there exists another great footballer who goes by the nickname ‘Iranian Messi’ and is sadly leaving professional football at the ripe age of 23.
Iran striker, Sardar Azmoun has been an integral part of the Iran national team. He has played full 90 minutes of each of his team’s games- the opening victory against Morocco, against Spain and the draw against Portugal. Although Azmoun has failed to score in any of the matches, he has been an important player on the ground. He played club football in Russia for Rubin Kazan and acquired the nickname ‘Iranian Messi’ after making his national team debut at the age of 19 and making his name to the list of top scorers for the country. Strong with the ball at his feet, he had attracted the attention of clubs from some of Europe’s biggest leagues, before opting to return to Kazan for further development. Quite unsurprisingly, he was seen as a long-term successor to Iran great Ali Daei. The expectations were cut short after Azmoun decided to retire suddenly owing to his mother’s poor health, which he believes, intensified after personal attacks on him and his family after Iran’s knockout. “Playing for my national team has been a great honour for me and I will be proud of myself to the end of my days. My mother had overcome a serious illness and I was happy but because of the unkindness of some people, and the insults that me and my teammates in no way deserved, her illness has become severe. I must pick one or the other (football) - and as a result I pick my mother” He said.
The sudden retirement of the most promising young talent comes as a big blow to the Asian country that has made steady progress in the recent years under Carlos Queiroz.
