Sardar Azmoun
Position: Striker
Age: 31
Country: Iran
Club: Shabab Al-Ahli
League: UAE Pro league
Major Honours: 4 X Russian Premier League (Zenit St. Petersburg), 1 X Russian Cup (Zenit St. Petersburg), 1 X UAE Pro League (Shabab Al-Ahli)
Club History: Rubin Kazan, FC Rostov, Zenit St. Petersburg, AS Roma, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Shabab Al-Ahli
Franco Romano | Alamy
"Honestly, I don't want my son to be a footballer and even if FC Barcelona wants him, I won't let him go there; football is a dirty business."
-Khalil Azmoun, Sardar's father
When he was young, everyone around him expected him to become a volleyball player. As a teenager, he was tall and athletic and he had strong legs, and more importantly, his father Khalil Azmoun's glorious years with the national volleyball team as both a player and a coach had paved the way for him to become a star on the volleyball court. Everyone thought so, except him.
Sardar's story is full of contradictions but one thing is certain: he loves football.
"Worst case scenario, I will be left out of the national team. Not important. This story will not be erased. Women, Life, Freedom."
Sardar Azmoun: A Career Built on Defiance
Despite his father's disapproval, he entered the youth academy of Sepahan S.C., arguably the best in Iran. At just 15 years old, his extraordinary ability to jump and head the ball, combined with his speed and technique, made him a nightmare for defenders. It didn't take much for the staff to offer him an official contract. Everything was ready. His dream was one signature away. However, there was one big obstacle in his way: his father.
But one day, a call from Russia changed everything.
Tehran's Quiet Rebellion
Suddenly, everything changed for Sardar. In January 2013, this 17-year-old Iranian packed his suitcase and moved to Russia, Tatarstan.
Tatarstan: A Leap Into the Unknown
"Azmoun is close to me. I am more strict with Sardar than with the others, and I have the right to be. His father gave me permission."
— Kurban Berdyev, Rubin coach
While most talented young footballers awaited their chances to play in Iran's Pro League, Sardar made a decision that few people possessed the courage to make. He neither spoke Russian nor had any experience living abroad before.
He was going to be thousands of kilometers away from home, where almost no one knew him. It was a gamble, an act of madness.
But his journey in Rubin Kazan got off to an excellent start. Goal after goal arrived for him and it was impossible not to put him in the starting eleven. A young star was born.
Two years later, he, together with his coach, Kurban Berdyev, moved to FC Rostov. Now they were playing in UEFA Champions League qualifiers. Sardar played a key role in FC Rostov reaching the UEFA Champions League group stage for the first time, by scoring crucial goals against R.S.C. Anderlecht and AFC Ajax. But his best footballing nights were yet to come.
In November 2016, during the UEFA Champions League group stage, Sardar scored against Atletico Madrid and FC Bayern Munich, including in Rostov's historic 3–2 victory over Bayern. It was a great achievement for a team playing for the first time in UEFA Champions League, but it was only the beginning for Sardar.
St. Petersburg: The Iranian Messi
At FC Zenit everything worked out for the young Iranian. The youngster who had once struggled to convince his father to allow him to play football was now the best player in Russia. People called him "Iranian Messi" and he was the most feared attacker in Iran's national team.
His move to FC Zenit Saint Petersburg in February 2019 was another step forward. Across four seasons, he managed to score 62 goals for FC Zenit, winning four Russian league titles and the Russian Premier League Player of the Year award.
Sardar's success at FC Zenit attracted the attention of several European giants. Azmoun moved on a five-year deal and a free transfer to Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Germany, in January 2022. Another big step forward, but not everything went as expected. Sometimes reaching the dream destination is not the most difficult part.
Injuries came one after the other. The competition for the starting eleven was at its highest. And to top it all off, with Xabi Alonso's arrival the game plan changed and wasn't compatible with what Sardar brought to the table.: For the first time in years, he was not the coach's first choice. His days in Germany were soon over.
Rome: A Door That Never Fully Opened
"Azmoun is the kind of player that I love, but he still lacks a little something to be my type of player in the defensive and transition phase. Although it must be said that he has crazy quality and can improve,"
-Jose Mourinho
For the 2023/24 season, Azmoun was sent on loan to AS Roma, Italy, Jose Mourinho's team at the time. This move was considered to be a golden opportunity for Sardar to put his career back on track. A chance to play under one of the greatest coaches of all time. Yet, although he had some moments, injuries and fierce competition made it impossible to shine consistently. The forward who once terrorized the defenders now rarely got the chance to step on the pitch. The season ended, with Azmoun scoring only three goals. His days in Europe were numbered.
While he was making himself known in the Russian league, a new generation of talented footballers was rising in Iran. Sardar played for the national team for the first time when he was only 19.
Azmoun was always the first choice, from World Cup Qualifiers to AFC Asian Cup. Sardar and the golden generation of Iranian footballers managed to qualify for the World Cup three times. He became one of the top goalscorers in Iran's history, with 57 goals in 91 matches, second only to the legendary Ali Daei.
"Iran is my identity, heart, and pride." — Sardar Azmoun
A Voice Beyond the Pitch
For a player nearing possibly the most important tournament of his life, this could cost dearly. His support for Amirreza Nasrazadani, a detained footballer during the 2022 protests, his advocacy for women's right to attend football stadiums, and his social media posts supporting protesters were all bound to have repercussions.
"Worst case scenario, I will be left out of the national team. Not important. This story will not be erased. Women, Life, Freedom."
Azmoun proved that he could be more than a footballer on multiple occasions.
In autumn 2022, amid civil unrest and protests due to the death of Mahsa Amini in Iran, just weeks before the start of the World Cup in Qatar, Azmoun shared a message that sparked controversy and went viral.
A Door That Closed Quietly
However, football can be ruthless at times. In spring 2026, as Iran prepared for another World Cup campaign, Sardar Azmoun was not included in the list of players going to the tournament. The player who was one of the national team's icons for over a decade was going to watch the most important tournament in the world at home.
Reports suggested that he would not be called for the national team, but in the end he did play at the 2022 World Cup and became one of the controversial topics of the tournament for Iran.
Nick Potts | Alamy
At present, Sardar Azmoun plays for Shabab Al Ahli Club in the UAE Pro League. Very close to home, yet far from his dream of playing in Europe's top leagues.
After all, he never feared taking risks.
Maybe he will get another chance to play in the World Cup, or maybe this is the last chapter of his national-team journey. Football does not wait for anyone. For many, the number 20 shirt had already been etched into the history of Iranian football.
Written by M. Nemani