Mehdi Ghayedi
Ghayedi with Esteghlal at Pro League in 2023
Personal information
Full name Mehdi Ghayedi[1]
Date of birth (1998-12-05) 5 December 1998 (age 25)
Place of birth Bushehr, Iran[1]
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)[2]
Position(s) Winger, forward
Team information
Current team
 Ittihad Kalba
(on loan from Shabab Al Ahli)
Number 10
Youth career
2011–2012 Iranjavan
2012–2013 Esteghlal Bushehr
2013–2016 Shahin Bushehr
2016 Iranjavan
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2017 Iranjavan 29 (10)
2017–2021 Esteghlal 81 (19)
2021– Shabab Al Ahli 22 (4)
2022–2023 → Esteghlal (loan) 29 (12)
2023– → Ittihad Kalba (loan) 18 (8)
International career‡
2017 Iran U20 2 (1)
2018–2020 Iran U23 8 (2)
2020– Iran 18 (7)
Medal record
Representing  Iran
CAFA Nations Cup
Winner 2023 Kyrgyzstan – Uzbekistan
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 6 April 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 26 March 2024

Mehdi Ghayedi (Persian: مهدی قایدی, born 5 December 1998) is an Iranian professional footballer who plays as a forward or second striker for UAE Pro League club Ittihad Kalba on loan from Shabab Al Ahli and the Iran national team. Known for his high speed, agility, and flair, he is nicknamed the "Neymar of Asia".

Club career

Iranjavan

Ghayedi was born in Bushehr, Iran,[3] and started his career at youth level with Iranjavan Bushehr. He was promoted to the senior squad before the start of the 2016–17 and scored 10 times. He was named as the Azadegan League young player of the season for the 2016–17 season in July 2017.[4]

Esteghlal

Ghayedi playing for Esteghlal in 2017

On 8 June 2017, Ghayedi signed a three-year contract with Esteghlal,[5] upon signing for Esteghlal, he was given the number 16.[6]

At the start of the season the FFIRI banned him from playing along with two fellow Esteghlal teammates Majid Hosseini and Omid Noorafkan as Alireza Mansourian prevented them to join Iran under-23 camp.[7] The deprivation from the FFIRI was finally cancelled on 29 July 2017 after missing the first week of the season and the players eligible to play for the second week of the 2017–18 campaign.[8] He finally made his debut for Esteghlal on 4 August 2017, in a 0–0 draw against Esteghlal Khuzestan entering the match as a substitute for Omid Noorafkan.[9] At the end of the match, even though he played for a few minutes, he was praised for his skills and effort.[10] After making his debut he became the youngest player to play for the club in the league, a record which was held by Omid Noorafkan previously.[11]

Ghayedi started his first match for the club in a 3–0 victory over Sepahan on 6 December.[12] On 25 January 2018, Esteghlal was awarded a penalty after a foul on Ghayedi which was converted by Server Djeparov in the 4–0 victory against Pars Jonoubi Jam; he also assisted Ali Ghorbani's goal in the same match. He was named the man of the match for his performance.[13]

On 29 January, Ghayedi was involved in a serious car crash in his hometown Bushehr along with his friends and his cousin who died a few days later.[14] As result of the accident, he went through a surgery due to his Spleen being damaged by trauma and was ruled out for the rest of the season.[15] A day later Esteghlal beat Sanat Naft in Hazfi Cup and his teammates dedicated the victory to him.[16] In August 2021, Ghayedi was linked with a move to Qatari side Al-Gharafa.[17]

Shabab Al Ahli

On 23 August 2021, Ghayedi transferred to Shabab Al Ahli Dubai on a five-year contract.[18]

International career

Youth

Ghayedi was selected to join Iran under-20 to take part in the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup, under manager Amir Hossein Peiravani. After sitting on the bench for Iran's opening match against Costa Rica, he made his tournament debut against Zambia and played for 18 minutes in Iran's 4–2 defeat.[19] He also played for a few minutes against Portugal as Iran lost the match and was knocked out of the competition.[20]

Senior

Ghayedi with Iran at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup

On 4 October 2020, Dragan Skočić called Ghayedi up for friendly against Uzbekistan. On 8 October 2020, he made his senior international debut against Uzbekistan.[21]

Style of play

Ghayedi often uses nutmeg skill for dribbling in one-on-one situations.[22]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 6 April 2024[23]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[a] Continental other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps goals
Iranjavan 2016–17 Azadegan League 29 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 30 10
Esteghlal 2017–18 PGPL 12 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 15 0
2018–19 10 3 2 0 3 0 0 0 15 3
2019–20 30 10 5 2 6 3 0 0 41 15
2020–21 29 6 5 0 6 3 0 0 40 9
Total 81 19 14 2 16 6 0 0 111 27
Shabab Al Ahli 2021–22 UPL 22 4 3 1 1 0 0 0 26 5
Total 22 4 3 1 1 0 0 0 26 5
Esteghlal 2022–23 PGPL 29 12 5 0 0 0 1 0 35 12
Total 29 12 5 0 0 0 1 0 35 12
Ittihad Kalba 2023–24 UPL 18 8 2 2 0 0 6 1 26 11
Career total 179 53 25 5 17 6 7 1 228 65
  1. ^ Includes Hazfi Cup, UAE League Cup and UAE President's Cup

International

As of match played 26 March 2024[24][25]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Iran 2020 2 1
2021 6 1
2023 2 0
2024 8 5
Total 18 7
Scores and results list Iran's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Ghayedi goal.
List of international goals scored by Mehdi Ghayedi
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 12 November 2020 Koševo City Stadium, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina  Bosnia and Herzegovina 2–0 2–0 Friendly
2 11 June 2021 Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa, Bahrain  Cambodia 9–0 10–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
3 9 January 2024 Al Rayyan Training, Al Rayyan, Qatar  Indonesia 4–0 5–0 Friendly
4 5–0
5 14 January 2024 Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar  Palestine 3–0 4–1 2023 AFC Asian Cup
6 19 January 2024 Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar  Hong Kong 1–0 1–0 2023 AFC Asian Cup
7 26 March 2024 Ashgabat Stadium, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan  Turkmenistan 1–0 1–0 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Esteghlal[23]

Individual

References

  1. ^ a b "Mehdi Ghayedi". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  2. ^ "Personal details". esteghlal fc. Archived from the original on 22 November 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  3. ^ آشنایی با باشو غریبه‌ی کوچک (المهدی گاییدی)آبی‌های تهران (in Persian).
  4. ^ "مهدی قائدی، پدیده لیگ یک در فصل ۹۵-۹۶" (in Persian).
  5. ^ قائدی رسما استقلالی شد (in Persian).
  6. ^ عجیب ترین پیراهن استقلال بر تن پژمان منتظری (in Persian).
  7. ^ "محرومیت 3 بازیکن استقلال از هفته اول لیگ" (in Persian).
  8. ^ محرومیت سه بازیکن استقلال لغو شد (in Persian).
  9. ^ "استقلال 0 - استقلال خوزستان 0؛ آبی‌ها شاکی از داور و دیوار" (in Persian).
  10. ^ نیمار در آزادی، نه در پاریس! (in Persian).
  11. ^ قائدی رکورد جوان‌ترین بازیکن تاریخ استقلال را در لیگ برتر شکست (in Persian). 6 August 2017.
  12. ^ "استقلال 3-0 سپاهان؛ در روز سوپر گل ها، طلسم های استقلال شکسته شد" (in Persian). 11 August 2017.
  13. ^ "استقلال 4- پارس جم 0؛ خط آتش آبی فاتح روز جنجالی" [Esteghlal 4 Pars Jam 0;] (in Persian). Varzesh3.com. 30 January 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  14. ^ آخرین اخبار از وضعیت مهدی قائدی بعد از تصادف [Latest news on Mehdi Ghaedi after the accident] (in Persian). Varzesh3.com. 29 January 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  15. ^ آخرین وضعیت روند درمان و آسیب دیدگی قائدی [Mehdi Ghaedi's latest injury and therapy situation] (in Persian). Varzesh3.com. 29 January 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  16. ^ خوشحالی شجاعیان با پیراهن مهدی قائدی [Shojaeian's celebration with Mehdi Ghay edi's shirt.] (in Persian). Varzesh3.com. 30 January 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  17. ^ لاعب الاستقلال الإيراني مهدي قايدي في طريقه إلى الغرافة. استاد الدوحة (in Arabic). 13 August 2021.
  18. ^ @AlBayanSports (23 August 2021). شركة نادي شباب الأهلي لكرة القدم، تتعاقد مع اللاعب الدولي الإيراني مهدي قائدي "22 سنة" لمدة 5 مواسم، تدعيماً لصفوف الفريق الأول للمرحلة المقبلة (Tweet) (in Arabic) – via Twitter.
  19. ^ "ایران 2 - زامبیا 4 ؛ توفان آفریقایی در 10 دقیقه" (in Persian).
  20. ^ "ایران 1- پرتغال 2؛ با دو ویدئو چک حذف شدیم" (in Persian).
  21. ^ "Uzbekistan vs. Iran 1 - 2". soccerway.com. 8 October 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  22. ^ گل اول استقلال به پرسپولیس توسط قایدی. ویدیو ورزش سه (in Persian). 26 August 2020.
  23. ^ a b Mehdi Ghayedi at Soccerway
  24. ^ "Statistics: Iran [Team Melli]".
  25. ^ "Ghayedi, Mehdi". National Football Teams. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  26. ^ "Mehdi Ghayedi wins Asia's Choice – Best Young Player of 2020". the-AFC.
  27. ^ "Team of the Tournament". Instagram.com. AFC Asian Cup. 12 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mehdi Ghayedi.
Al-Ittihad Kalba SC – current squad
Iran squad – 2023 AFC Asian Cup semi-finalists
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