Alireza Biranvand: I hope to win the Ballon d'Or this time

Alireza Biranvand has been selected as one of the three candidates for Asia's Man of the Year in 2026.

According to ambassador Arjan; In an interview with Federation newspaper, Alireza Biranvand said: "This incident is very valuable to me. The last time was in 2019 when I was among the three finalists for this award, and after that, no other Iranian goalkeeper was included in this group until today. Now that I have this opportunity again, it makes me more happy and motivated. Of course, I don't consider this honor to be mine only and I hope I can be a worthy representative for Iranian football."

He continued: "It is not possible to reach such a position without continuous efforts, support of teammates and the efforts of the technical team. Goalkeeping seems like an individual job, but the reality is that a goalkeeper's good performance depends on the coordination of the whole team. "I have always tried to give my best performance for the national team and my club with focus and responsibility."

Referring to the experience of participating in international competitions, the Iranian national team goalkeeper admitted: "Performing in the 2026 World Cup as well as last season's Asian Elite League matches were important experiences for me. The game at this level has a lot of pressure and sensitivity and helps the player to improve technically and mentally. I am happy that my performance in this direction has been noticed and has been nominated for such an award."

Biranvand concluded: "Naturally, when you are nominated for a big award, you also think about winning it. I also hope that something good will happen this time and that I can present this honor to the people of Iran and the fans who have always been behind me. However, this nomination also increases my responsibility to continue my work with a higher motivation and to be a worthy representative of my country's football."