WORLD CUP – Sardar Azmoun, the “Iranian Messi” who defies the authorities

Sardar Azmoun, nicknamed in his country the “Iranian Messi”, is not only the main offensive asset of the “Team Melli”. He has also taken on a new dimension by defying the authorities with his ostensible support for the ongoing uprising in Iran. Although the Bayer Leverkusen striker (27), hit in the right calf just before the start of the World Cup, is not in optimal physical shape, he still risks attracting all eyes as soon as he enters contention of the Persian selection against England, Monday in Doha (group B).

Beyond the sporting aspect, the native of Gonbad-e Qabous, in north-eastern Iran, has above all made people talk about him in recent weeks for his political commitment and his strong positions from the start of the Protests sparked by the September 16 death of young Mahsa Amini (22) after she was arrested by police for breaking the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code.

A few days later, Azmoun split a message on Instagram to denounce the repression of the movement led by the authorities, which left at least 378 dead according to a report released on Saturday by the NGO Iran Human Rights (IHR), based in Norway. “It cannot be erased from our consciousness. Shame on you. They left a pain in the heart of the nation that history will never forget.“, he thus wrote, soon imitated by several of his teammates within the national team.

Account suspended and rumor of non-selection

A daring and risky position that led to the temporary closure of his Instagram account, followed by nearly five million people. Not enough, however, to discourage the player who has since continued to defend the demonstrators on social networks. A commitment hailed in Germany. “He is a huge model for all his commitment, his behavior. It is now up to us to take him under our wing and support him in this difficult situation.“, explained in particular his former coach at Bayer, Gerardo Seoane.

The Azmoun case has attracted so much attention that the rumor of his non-selection under pressure from the Iranian Federation even swelled after the cancellation at the last moment of the press conference by coach Carlos Queiroz for the announcement of the list for the World Cup, scheduled for November 13. The Portuguese finally unveiled his squad including the rebel striker.

It remains to be seen in what state the former striker of Zenit St-Petersburg (2019-2022), also passed by Rubin Kazan and Rostov in Russia and ardently courted by Lyon last year, will start this World Cup. Victim of a muscle tear in his right calf, on October 6 during the warm-up before a Champions League match with Bayer Leverkusen against FC Porto, Azmoun has still not returned to competition and he should logically lack rhythm, Monday against the English.

The player’s recent performances since moving to Bayer in January don’t speak in his favor either. Prolific with Zenit (73 goals in 118 matches), he marked time in the Bundesliga (2 goals in 26 appearances, all competitions combined) in a struggling formation (12th in the championship). But what does the figures matter for the man who has become, in his own way, a symbol of opposition to the regime of the Islamic Republic.