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Best save of World Cup? Iran’s Alireza Beiranvand has 'fantastic day'

INGLEWOOD, CA — In a World Cup that has already had some epic goalkeeper performances, add Iran’s Alireza Beiranvand to the list.

Because not only did he have a “fantastic day,” according to coach Amir Ghalenoei, but he may have also made the best save of the entire tournament.

Iran finished with a scoreless draw against Belgium on Sunday, June 21, with much thanks to Beiranvand having the match of his life to get Team Melli one point. The result keeps them in the hunt with two points in Group G.

“He had one of the best days today,” Ghalenoei said through FIFA translation. “He had the right concentration and he gave us one very valuable point.”

Initially, it didn’t seem like a day like this would be in the cards after Beiranvand took an inadvertent but brutal knee to the chest and neck from Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku just three minutes into the match. He was on the ground for several minutes, seemingly trying to catch his breath while medical personnel attended to him.

It felt like deja vu all over again, when a collision in Iran’s opening match of the 2022 World Cup against England eventually took him out of the contest and led to a resounding 6-2 loss.

This wouldn’t be the same.

“It wasn't good for us, but he's a strong guy,” said Saman Ghoddos. “I knew he was going to go up.”

More: Iran coach again criticizes treatment of team, calls them `oppressed'

Beiranvand was able to get back up on his feet and collect himself. It seemed like that pause in action locked him into the mindset of defending his goal by any means necessary.

The first half was dominated by Belgium, which spent roughly 80% of it with possession. But with each opportunity it had, Beiranvand was right there to stop it.

Then came arguably the best save of 2026. In the 59th minute, Belgium’s Maxim De Cuyper was ready to tap the ball just a few feet away from the net off a deflection, with Beiranvand down on the ground. It was easily the best opportunity for Belgium all day.

When De Cuyper’s shot went, Beiranvand somehow extended off the grass and got his left hand to stonewall the ball from going in.

The ball stayed right in front of the goal before Beiranvand reeled it in, a save that wowed everyone inside the stadium.

That was the play that epitomized Beiranvand’s game. He was constantly putting his body on the line to keep hope alive, diving all around his area to deny Belgium. Conceding a goal and losing would have put Iran in great danger of not making it out of the group stage.

Instead, he finished with a seven-save shutout and was awarded the superior player of the match.

Yes, it’s not as many saves as the astonishing 15 Curaçao’s Eloy Room made against Ecuador, nor the type of competition Cabo Verde’s Vozinha faced in his viral performance against Spain. But Beiranvand surely came up with one that will very well be among the best of the tournament, using every ounce of hustle and grit to keep the sheet clean.

It was a major step up from the opening match with New Zealand, when Beiranvand gave up a goal just seven minutes in and another later in the second half, with the offense saving the day to salvage a 2-2 tie. Maybe that’s why instead of feeling like he was the man of the match, Beiranvand instead just felt like a contributor on his epic day.

“It’s a great feeling when you’re helping your teammates,” he said.

Beiranvand isn’t new to this stage — this is the 33-year-old’s third World Cup after making his debut in 2018. He’s no stranger to Iranian football, either, having been one nation’s best goalkeepers throughout his senior career, with his coach and teammates touting him as among the best Team Melli has seen.

“Alireza is one of our greatest goalkeepers in the history of Iranian football, and he’s achieved so many things,” Ghalenoei said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Best save of World Cup? Iran’s Alireza Beiranvand puts up epic match

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