Daei, a tall forward, was a prolific goal scorer recognized for his headed precision and aerial skills.
He held the world record for most international goals scored with 109 until Christiano Ronaldo broke it in 2021.
Following his retirement, Daei served on the FIFA Football Committee from 2007 until 2013. He was inducted into the Asian Football Hall of Fame in 2014.
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Ali Daei: Who Is His Wife Mona Farokhazari?
The Iranian authorities have barred Ali Daei’s wife Mona Farokhazari from going to Dubai.
According to Aljazeera, Mona and her daughter were on their way to Dubai when their jet was rerouted to Kish Island in Iran. According to Ali, the pair were ordered off the plane, but no further action was taken.
According to the Iranian State News Agency, Mona told the Iranian government that she would leave the country before departing since she was a protestor against the Islamic republic.
Ali further indicated that if his family had been barred from departing, the passport police system would have clearly shown it, but no such response was received.
On November 14, 2022, Ali became viral after declining FIFA’s official invitation to the World Cup in order to remain in solidarity with the Iranian people during the continuing huge protests.
Iran’s government has taken action against several notable people who backed the protests that erupted across the country following the death of Mahsa Amini. The administration has decided to prohibit such individuals from leaving Iran.
Mona Farokhazari is an Iranian businesswoman who makes a living by selling jewels.
Ali’s wife is from Ardebil but was born in Tehran in 1977. She has a Master’s degree in engineering and worked in the food sector before deciding to pursue a career in jewelry.
According to Alii, his wife earns a lot of money from her jewelry company, sometimes much more than he does.
Ali also assists Mona in running the Jewelry store. The government has currently shut down their jewelry company.
Ali Daei: Why Was His Family Removed From The Flight?
Authorities banned Iranian soccer hero Ali Daei and his family from an overseas aircraft because of his support for anti-government protests in his own country.
According to an Iranian state-run news outlet, Daei’s wife, Mona Farokhazari, and their daughter were removed from their aircraft after their plane was rerouted to land at Iran’s Kish Island, where Farokhazari and her daughter alighted.
Daei stated that his wife and daughter were flying from Tehran, Iran, to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to join him on holiday.
Daei, who played in Germany’s premier soccer league Bundesliga for five seasons, also stated that he had no idea his family was forbidden from leaving the country.
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Ali Daei: Who Is He? His Biography
Daei, who was born on March 21, 1969 in Iran, is largely recognized as the greatest Asian player of all time.
He began his football career with his local team Esteghlala Ardabil at the age of 19, but rose to notoriety at Tehran-based side Bank Tejarat, where he scored 49 goals in 75 appearances.
He flourished after joining Persepolis in 1994, scoring 23 goals in 38 appearances before going to Al Sadd. However, a move to Bundesliga club Arminia Bielefeld, where he joined Iran teammate Karim Bagheri, boosted his status.
His performance with Arminia won him a transfer to German powerhouse Bayern Munich, where he was signed by Ottmar Hitzfeld. Daei, on the other hand, struggled to find playing time with Bayern, and he was mostly limited to bench appearances while Carsten Jancker, Mario Basler, and Giovane Élber were favoured in attack.
Despite his limited playing time, he finished the season with six goals. Daei created history with Bayern by being the first Asian player to play in the UEFA Champions League.
He returned to Asia in 2002 after spending several years in Germany performing for Hertha Berlin. Daei later managed the Iranian national team between 2008 and 2009, compiling a solid 16-6-3 record until being fired after a 1-0 loss to Saudi Arabia in March 2009.
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Ali Daei: Early Life
Ali Daei was born on March 21, 1969, in Ardabil, Iran. He is Iranian by nationality and ethnically mixed. His astrological sign is Aries, and he follows Islam. He was born to Abolfazl Daei. Mohammed Daei is his younger brother.
He has a degree in Materials Engineering from Sharif University of Technology, according to his education. He also possesses a science bachelor’s degree.
Ali Daei: Career Details
- Ali Daei received an offer he couldn’t reject on June 6, 1993. The offer was to play for Iran’s national team or Team Melli. Daei made his debut in the 1993 Eco Cup against Pakistan, which Iran won.
- On June 25, 1993, he scored his first goal for his country in a 6-0 victory against Chinese Taipei as part of a pre-World Cup match.
- With four goals in five games, he was named the top scorer in the Asian round of the 1994 FIFA World Cup Qualifications.
- The International Federation of Football History and Statistics declared Daei the highest scorer in Men’s International Football in 1996 after he scored 20 goals for Iran (IFFHS).
- He scored his 85th international goal against Lebanon in an Asian Cup qualification match in 2003, passing Ferenc Puskás (Hungary) to become the all-time leading scorer in international football.
- In 2024, he scored four goals, bringing his total active goals to an all-time high of 102.
- He then set a world record by being the first male player to score the most active goals in international football.
- Daei became a football coach after retiring and coached various football clubs.
Rankings of Ali Daei
Ali Daei held the world record for most international goals before being surpassed by Christiano Ronaldo of Portugal.
Daei is currently rated second all-time in International Men’s Football goal scorers, trailing only Christiano Ronaldo.
In 149 outings, he has 109 goals.
Ali Daei: Net Worth 2023
Ali Daei is a successful businessman who made his fortune as a former professional footballer, football manager, and businessman. Ali Daei’s net worth is expected to be $110 million by 2020, albeit this has yet to be confirmed.
He surely makes a lot of money from his football career. Daei Sport’s Wears & Equipment, his own football jersey manufacturing company, produces sportswear for Iranian athletic clubs in a variety of fields and league clubs worldwide.
He’s also been seen collaborating with UNICEF on multiple occasions, notably in a commercial with David Beckham and Madeleine Albright. Furthermore, his wife, Mona, has a jewelry store.
His major sources of income are his commercial job and his football career. He is currently living the high life.
Ali Daei: Married Life
Ali Daei is a parent and a husband. He married his wonderful bride, Mona Farokhazari, in 2005. The couple’s two daughters, Noura and Deniz Daei, were born to them. They are both happy in their marriage.
He is not gay and has a sexual preference that is not heterosexual. They have a wonderful life together, share a lot of affection, and are unlikely to divorce.
Ali Daei: Physical Appearance
Ali Daei is a gorgeous man with a great disposition. He has a well-maintained physique. He stands 1.92 meters tall and has a balanced mass of 88 kg. His hair is black, and he has dark brown eyes. His physique is average. In general, he has a healthy body with good physical measurements.
Ali Daei: Career Stats
| SEASON | CLUB | COUNTRY | DIV | AGE | PM | SM | CM | AM | MIN | YC | RD | G | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-98 |
Arminia Bielefeld
|
 |
1ª | 28 | 25 | 20 | 15 | 5 | 1830 | 5 | – | 7 | ||
| 1998-99 |
Bayern München
|
 |
1ª | 29 | 23 | 12 | 8 | 11 | 1272 | 1 | – | 6 | ||
| 1999-00 |
Hertha Berliner
|
1ª | 30 | 28 | 15 | 11 | 13 | 1540 | 3 | – | 3 | |||
| 2000-01 |
Hertha Berliner
|
1ª | 31 | 23 | 4 | 3 | 19 | 728 | – | – | 3 | |||
| 2001-02 |
Hertha Berliner
|
1ª | 32 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 198 | – | – | – |
Ali Daei: Personal Information
| Full Name | Ali Daei |
| NickName | Ali |
| Famous as | Football manager, businessman |
| Birth Date | March 21, 1969 |
| Age | 23 years old |
| Horoscope | Aries |
| Birth Place | Ardabil, Iran |
| Siblings | 1 |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in |
| Weight | 88 kg |
| Nationality | Iranian |
| Ethnicity | Mixed |
| Eye Color | Dark brown |
| Hair Color | Black |
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