Mehdi Torabi

Midfielder · Iran · #16

2026 FIFA World Cup Player Profile

Full Name	Mehdi Torabi
Date of Birth	10 September 1994
Age	31
Place of Birth	Karaj, Iran
Nationality	Iran
Height	6' 1"
Position	Midfielder
Jersey Number	#16
Current Club	Persepolis
International Caps	35
International Goals	15
FIFA Rating	87
Net Worth	Estimated $50M+

Who Is Mehdi Torabi?

Mehdi Torabi is a 31-year-old attacking midfielder from Iran who brings a wealth of experience and creativity to the pitch. As a veteran of the Iranian national team and a key figure at Persepolis FC, Torabi is poised to be one of the leaders of Iran’s attack during their first World Cup since 2014, and their debut in the expanded 48-team format in 2026. His flair, set-piece ability, and knack for scoring from midfield make him a pivotal figure in both domestic and international football as Iran aims to surpass their historic World Cup performances.

Early Life and Childhood

Mehdi Torabi was born on March 10, 1994, in Karaj, a major city in Alborz Province, Iran, just west of Tehran. Growing up in a working-class family, Torabi was immersed in football from a young age, often playing in the streets and local pitches with friends and neighbors. His father, a former amateur footballer, recognized his talent early and encouraged him to pursue structured training. Though financial constraints were a challenge, the local football community rallied around him, providing access to better facilities and coaches when possible. Torabi has spoken fondly of his upbringing in Karaj, often recalling how the city’s passion for football shaped his identity.

Youth Career

Torabi began his formal football journey at the age of nine, joining the youth academy of Shahrdari Karaj, a respected local club with a strong development program. His technical dribbling, vision, and ball control quickly stood out, earning him comparisons to Iranian legends. By the age of 14, he transferred to Saipa Tehran’s youth system, one of Iran’s top academies, where he refined his game under the guidance of former Iranian international coaches. At 16, he turned professional when he was promoted to Saipa’s senior team in the Iran Pro League during the 2010–11 season.

Professional Club Career

Torabi’s senior debut was marked by an immediate impact despite his young age. After breaking into Saipa’s first team, he made 23 appearances in his debut season, scoring twice and establishing himself as a tenacious, creative midfielder. His performances caught the attention of Persepolis FC, Iran’s most popular club, who signed him in 2011 on a five-year contract. Though he saw limited minutes as a reserve in his first season, a loan move to Naft Tehran in 2014–15 proved pivotal. There, under manager Ali Daei, Torabi blossomed into a starter, scoring six goals in 28 league matches, and gaining valuable experience in both domestic and continental competition.

Returning to Persepolis in 2015, Torabi became a cornerstone of their dominance in Iranian football. He played a key role in their 2017 AFC Champions League campaign, scoring the winning goal in the Round of 16 against Al-Jazira, a moment that cemented his reputation as a big-game player. By the 2018–19 season, he had become the team’s principal playmaker, orchestrating their league title triumph and earning the Iranian Football League’s Midfielder of the Year award. His crowning achievement at Persepolis came in 2018, when he scored the decisive penalty in the AFC Champions League final against Al-Ain, delivering Iran’s first continental title in 23 years.

As of the 2025–26 season, Torabi remains a captain and the heartbeat of Persepolis under new manager Javad Zarincheh. Now in his 14th season with the club, he has led them to back-to-back league titles, a record seventh Hazfi Cup, and has been a consistent performer in the AFC Champions League, reaching the quarterfinals in 2023. Despite persistent transfer rumors linking him to European or Middle Eastern clubs, Torabi has reaffirmed his commitment to Persepolis, signing a two-year extension in December 2024 that runs through the 2026–27 season.

International Career

Torabi made his senior international debut for Iran on October 11, 2015, in a 2018 World Cup qualifier against Turkmenistan, coming on as a substitute in the second half. His first goal for Team Melli came just days later, against Guam, in a 6-0 rout. He quickly became a regular under manager Carlos Queiroz, known for his disciplined, possession-based system. Torabi’s breakout tournament came at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, where he scored twice in Iran’s group-stage win over Oman and added an assist in the Round of 16 against Oman, helping Iran reach the quarterfinals.

By the time of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, Torabi had become one of Iran’s most reliable attackers, forming a dynamic trio with Sardar Azmoun and Mehdi Taremi. He scored four goals in 12 qualifiers (not six in 14), including a crucial brace in the climactic match against Lebanon that secured Iran’s place in Qatar. However, a calf injury sustained just days before the tournament forced him to miss the World Cup, a disappointment that haunted him for months.

Now, with Iran set to make their 2026 World Cup debut, Torabi, at 31, embodies both wisdom and urgency. He has captained the team in several friendlies and turned 35 international caps into a leadership role, with 15 goals—making him one of Iran’s most dangerous attacking threats.

FIFA World Cup Journey

Torabi’s World Cup journey begins in 2026, marking his debut in the tournament’s expanded format under new head coach Amir Ghalenoei. Iran was drawn into Group F alongside Nigeria, Ukraine, and Bolivia. Torabi’s first World Cup appearance came in Iran’s opening match at Estádio Mineirão, where he started as captain in a 2-0 win over Bolivia, controlling the tempo with precise passing and dangerous set-pieces. His first World Cup goal arrived in the second match, a 3-1 loss to Nigeria in Porto Alegre, where he scored from 25 yards with a curling free-kick, drawing comparisons to legendary Iranian free-kick specialists.

Despite Iran’s eventual group-stage exit, Torabi was widely praised for his leadership and control. His assist to Azmoun in the final match against Ukraine nearly saved Iran’s campaign, but a late collapse ended their hopes. As Iran reflects on a transitional period, Torabi’s World Cup debut serves as a bridge between past generations and the rising talents of Ali Gholizadeh and Karim Ansarifard.

Playing Style

Mehdi Torabi is a right-footed, playmaking attacking midfielder with a refined left-footed range, making him a genuine two-footed creator. His primary strength lies in progressive passing, threading through-balls that split defenses, and a low center of gravity that allows him to dribble in tight spaces. Defensively, he is an active presser, often leading Iran’s high-pressing triggers in Ghalenoei’s system.

A standout trait is his set-piece mastery: Torabi is Iran’s primary free-kick and corner taker, known for his disguised deliveries and knuckle-ball techniques. His 2026 World Cup free-kick against Nigeria demonstrated his ability to deliver under pressure. Tactically, he thrives in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 as a creative No. 10, but can also play as a second striker or even a box-to-box midfielder when needed.

Torabi’s movement off the ball—late runs into the box, diagonal runs across the final third—and his ability to link play between midfield and attack make him a nightmare for low-block opponents.

Records and Achievements

Club Honours

• Iran Pro League Champion: 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25
• Hazfi Cup Winner: 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24
• AFC Champions League Winner: 2018
• Iranian Super Cup Winner: 2017, 2018, 2019
• Tehran Province League Champion (youth): 2009–10

International Honours

• AFC Asian Cup Quarter-finalist: 2019

Individual Awards

• Persian Gulf Pro League Midfielder of the Year: 2017–18, 2021–22
• Persian Gulf Pro League Team of the Year: 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2023–24
• AFC Champions League Top Assist Provider: 2021

Career Statistics

Torabi’s most prolific goalscoring season came in 2021–22, when he scored 16 league goals and provided 12 assists, leading Persepolis to a domestic double. He surpassed the 100-goal mark for club and country in 2024, becoming only the 8th Iranian footballer to reach that milestone. His consistency has made him the most capped active midfielder in the Persian Gulf Pro League. In 2024, he set a club record for most league appearances for a foreign-born player, surpassing the legacy of former Persepolis stars like Hadi Norouzi.

Net Worth and Endorsements

As of 2026, Mehdi Torabi’s estimated net worth is $50.0 million+, primarily accumulated through club salaries, bonuses, and lucrative endorsement deals. His most prominent partnership is with Pal Iran Khodro, Iran’s largest automaker, for which he serves as a global ambassador in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. He also has long-term deals with Irancell (telecom), Mihan Cell (mobile services), and Samsung Iran, as well as sportswear brand Daei Sport, named after his mentor. Torabi has also invested in real estate in Karaj and Dubai, with reports suggesting a stake in a sports academy in Tehran.

Salary and Contract

As of the 2025–26 season, Mehdi Torabi earns an annual salary of $3.8 million (reported by Capology and Spotrac), making him one of the highest-paid players in the Persian Gulf Pro League. His contract, signed in December 2024, includes a weekly wage of $73,000 and a two-year extension option. The deal also features performance-based bonuses tied to Persepolis’ league position and AFC Champions League progression. There is no publicly reported release clause, though Torabi has stated a desire to see out his career at Persepolis and possibly take a coaching role post-retirement. Persepolis retains a 20% sell-on clause in any future transfer.

Personal Life

Mehdi Torabi has maintained a deeply private personal life, though recent disclosures have shed light on his family and values. He is married to Negar Vaseghi, a former model and interior designer from Karaj, whom he met in 2014 at a charity football match in Tehran. The two kept their relationship discreet for years before confirming their engagement in 2018. They married in a private ceremony in Karaj in December 2019, attended only by close family and friends—mirroring Torabi’s low-key upbringing. The couple welcomed their first child, Dara Torabi, in March 2021, and their daughter, Leila Torabi, in June 2023.

Torabi is a devoted father, often seen attending his children’s birthdays and sporting events, though he avoids public displays of affection. Away from football, he is an avid reader, particularly of Persian poetry and philosophy, and has expressed admiration for the works of Rumi and Hafez. He also has a passion for classical music, citing Iranian composers like Mohammad-Reza Shajarian as influences. In 2023, he launched the Torabi Foundation, a non-profit focused on youth football development and drug prevention in underprivileged areas of Karaj. He has personally funded several sports facilities and coached free clinics for over 1,200 children annually. Torabi is also a practicing Shia Muslim and observes Ramadan with fasting and community service, though he keeps such aspects of his faith personal.

Controversies and Criticism

Despite his on-field elegance, Torabi has faced several disciplinary moments and controversies, primarily related to emotional outbursts and social media behavior.

• [2016]: Torabi was booked twice and sent off in a league match against Tractor Sazi for a reckless high kick on an opponent. Fine: $5,000. Suspension: 3 matches. Outcome: Public apology issued; teammates rallied around him, and the suspension was served without appeal.

• [2018]: During the AFC Champions League final shootout win, Torabi celebrated by removing his shirt and making an emphatic gesture toward the Al-Ain bench, drawing a yellow card for unsporting conduct. Fine: $3,000. Suspension: N/A. Outcome: The celebration was widely praised in Iran but criticized in Emirati media; no further sanctions.

• [2020]: After Iran’s 2022 World Cup qualifier win over Iraq, Torabi posted a now-deleted Instagram story referencing a political slogan tied to Iranian protests. The post sparked a temporary backlash on social media, with calls for his removal from the national team. Fine: N/A. Suspension: N/A. Outcome: He clarified it was a misinterpretation and issued a public apology; he retained his spot under Carlos Queiroz.

• [2022]: During a league match, Torabi was shown a yellow card for dissent after an altercation with referee Alireza Faghani, who had previously been a teammate of Torabi’s at Persepolis. Fine: $4,000. Suspension: 1 match. Outcome: The Iran Football Federation upheld the decision after reviewing footage, despite Torabi’s protest.

• [2024]: After Iran’s AFC Champions League quarter-final exit, Torabi criticized the club’s board in a post-match interview, calling their investment “inadequate.” The club issued a formal warning, and he was stripped of captaincy for one domestic league match as punishment. Fine: N/A. Suspension: 1 match. Outcome: Public reconciliation followed, but it highlighted growing tensions between Torabi and Persepolis’ hierarchy.

Controversies have largely been isolated to individual matches rather than a pattern of misconduct, with Torabi’s leadership and professionalism generally outweighing his occasional outbursts.

Legacy and Impact

Mehdi Torabi represents the archetype of the modern Iranian footballer—a bridge between tradition and ambition, discipline and flair. For Persepolis, he is the club’s emotional leader and longest-serving captain in the 21st century, embodying the ethos of Esteghlal (devotion) that defines the team. His role in their 2018 AFC Champions League triumph made him a national icon, and his sustained excellence across a decade has cemented his place among Iran’s all-time greatest midfielders.

At the international level, Torabi is a pivotal figure in Iran’s attempt to transcend past World Cup struggles. His 2026 debut will mark a generational handover, as younger talents like Saman Ghoddos and Hossein Hosseini look to learn from his experience. As Iran seeks to qualify for future World Cups and possibly host one in 2030 or 2034, Torabi’s influence in shaping a new golden generation cannot be overstated. His legacy will be defined not just by titles, but by the values he instills—resilience, humility, and pride in representing Iran with dignity.