{{Short description|Iranian footballer (born 1998)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Mehdi Ghayedi | image = Esteghlal FC vs Tractor FC, 18 May 2023 - 04.jpg | caption = Ghayedi with Esteghlal in 2023 | fullname = Mehdi Ghayedi<ref name="GSA">{{GSA player|mehdi-ghayedi/182064|access-date=25 June 2021}}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|12|5|df=y}} | birth_place = Bushehr, Iran<ref name="GSA" /> | height = 1.66 m<ref>{{cite web |title=Personal details |url=https://www.shababalahli.ae/team/mehdi-ghayedi/ |publisher=esteghlal fc |access-date=7 April 2022 |archive-date=22 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211122023123/https://www.shababalahli.ae/team/mehdi-ghayedi/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> | position = Winger, second striker | currentclub = Al-Nasr | clubnumber = 10 | youthyears1 = 2011–2012 | youthclubs1 = Iranjavan | youthyears2 = 2012–2013 | youthclubs2 = Esteghlal Bushehr | youthyears3 = 2013–2016 | youthclubs3 = Shahin Bushehr | youthyears4 = 2016 | youthclubs4 = Iranjavan | years1 = 2016–2017 | clubs1 = Iranjavan | caps1 = 29 | goals1 = 10 | years2 = 2017–2021 | clubs2 = Esteghlal | caps2 = 81 | goals2 = 19 | years3 = 2021–2025 | clubs3 = Shabab Al Ahli | caps3 = 22 | goals3 = 4 | years4 = 2022–2023 | clubs4 = → Esteghlal (loan) | caps4 = 29 | goals4 = 12 | years5 = 2023–2025 | clubs5 = → Kalba (loan) | caps5 = 48 | goals5 = 28 | years6 = 2025– | clubs6 = Al-Nasr | caps6 = 6 | goals6 = 2 | nationalyears1 = 2017 | nationalteam1 = Iran U20 | nationalcaps1 = 2 | nationalgoals1 = 1 | nationalyears2 = 2018–2020 | nationalteam2 = Iran U23 | nationalcaps2 = 8 | nationalgoals2 = 2 | nationalyears3 = 2020– | nationalteam3 = Iran | nationalcaps3 = 29 | nationalgoals3 = 10 | pcupdate = 6 January 2026 | ntupdate = 31 March 2026 }} '''Mehdi Ghayedi''' ({{langx|fa|مهدی قایدی}}; born 5 December 1998) is an Iranian professional footballer who plays as a winger or second striker for UAE Pro League club Al-Nasr and the Iran national team.
==Club career==
===Iranjavan Bushehr=== Ghayedi was born in Bushehr and began his career at the youth level with local side Iranjavan Bushehr.<ref name="Bio">{{cite web|url=http://www.varzesh3.com/news/1420798/آشنایی-با-باشو-غریبه%E2%80%8Cی-کوچک-آبی%E2%80%8Cهای-تهران|script-title=fa:آشنایی با باشو غریبهی کوچک (المهدی گاییدی)آبیهای تهران|language=fa}}</ref> After his promotion to the senior squad, he was named the 2016–17 Azadegan League Young Player of the Season for scoring 10 league goals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://90tv.ir/video/408456/مهدی-قائدی-پدیده-لیگ-یک-در-فصل-95-96|title=مهدی قائدی، پدیده لیگ یک در فصل ۹۵-۹۶ |language=fa<!-- script-title doesn't work well here -->}}</ref>
===Esteghlal=== [[File:Mehdi Ghaedi.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Ghayedi playing for Esteghlal in 2017]] On 8 June 2017, Ghayedi signed a three-year contract with Esteghlal.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=fa:قائدی رسما استقلالی شد|url=http://www.varzesh3.com/news/1420755|language=fa}}</ref> Upon signing, he was given the number 16.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=fa:عجیب ترین پیراهن استقلال بر تن پژمان منتظری|url=http://www.varzesh3.com/news/1452099/عجیب-ترین-پیراهن-استقلال-بر-تن-پژمان-منتظری|language=fa}}</ref>
At the start of the 2017–18 season, the FFIRI barred Ghayedi from playing for Esteghlal, along with club teammates Majid Hosseini and Omid Noorafkan, as the three were expected to join the Iran under-23 training camp.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.varzesh3.com/news/1428874/محرومیت-3-بازیکن-استقلال-از-هفته-اول-لیگ!|title=محرومیت 3 بازیکن استقلال از هفته اول لیگ|language=fa<!-- script-title doesn't work well here -->}}</ref> However, the order was cancelled on 29 July 2017, with Ghayedi missing only the first week of the new season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.varzesh3.com/news/1450468/محرومیت-سه-بازیکن-استقلال-لغو-شد|script-title=fa:محرومیت سه بازیکن استقلال لغو شد|language=fa}}</ref> He made his debut for Esteghlal as a substitute on 4 August 2017 in a 0–0 draw against Esteghlal Khuzestan, becoming the youngest league player to ever play for the club.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.varzesh3.com/news/1451851/استقلال-0-اس-خوزستان-0؛-آبی%E2%80%8Cها-شاکی-از-داور-و-دیوار|title=استقلال 0 - استقلال خوزستان 0؛ آبیها شاکی از داور و دیوار|language=fa<!-- script-title doesn't work well here -->}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=6 August 2017 |script-title=fa:قائدی رکورد جوانترین بازیکن تاریخ استقلال را در لیگ برتر شکست |url=http://www.isna.ir/news/96051509034/قائدی-رکورد-جوان-ترین-بازیکن-تاریخ-استقلال-را-در-لیگ-برتر-شکست |language=fa}}</ref> Despite limited minutes, Ghayedi was praised on his debut for his skills and effort.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.varzesh3.com/news/1452031/نیمار-در-آزادی،-نه-در-پاریس!|script-title=fa:نیمار در آزادی، نه در پاریس!|language=fa}}</ref>
Ghayedi made his first start for the club in a 3–0 victory over Sepahan on 6 December 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tarafdari.com/خبر/858892/استقلال-3-0-سپاهان؛-در-روز-سوپر-گل-ها،-طلسم-های-استقلال-شکسته-شد|title=استقلال 3-0 سپاهان؛ در روز سوپر گل ها، طلسم های استقلال شکسته شد|date=11 August 2017|language=fa}}</ref> On 25 January 2018, he was named man of the match for his performance in a 4–0 victory against Pars Jonoubi Jam, during which he provided an assist and won a penalty kick.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.varzesh3.com/news/1500173/گزارش-بازی-استقلال-تهران-پارس-جنوبی-05-11-96|title=استقلال 4- پارس جم 0؛ خط آتش آبی فاتح روز جنجالی |trans-title=Esteghlal 4 Pars Jam 0;|publisher=Varzesh3.com|language=fa|date=30 January 2018 |accessdate=3 February 2018<!-- script-title doesn't work well here -->}}</ref>
On 29 January 2018, Ghayedi was involved in a serious car crash in his hometown of Bushehr, along with friends and a cousin, who died a few days later.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.varzesh3.com/news/1501151/تصادف-شدید-خودروی-ستاره-جوان-استقلال-عکس|script-title=fa:آخرین اخبار از وضعیت مهدی قائدی بعد از تصادف |trans-title=Latest news on Mehdi Ghaedi after the accident|publisher=Varzesh3.com|language=fa|date=29 January 2018 |accessdate=2 February 2018}}</ref> As a result of the accident, Ghayedi required surgery on his spleen and was ruled out for the rest of the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.varzesh3.com/news/1501160/آخرین-وضعیت-روند-درمان-و-آسیب-دیدگی-قائدی|script-title=fa:آخرین وضعیت روند درمان و آسیب دیدگی قائدی |trans-title=Mehdi Ghaedi's latest injury and therapy situation|publisher=Varzesh3.com|language=fa|date=29 January 2018 |accessdate=2 February 2018}}</ref> A day later, Esteghlal beat Sanat Naft in Hazfi Cup, and Ghayedi's teammates dedicated the victory to him.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.varzesh3.com/news/1501520/خوشحالی-شجاعیان-با-پیراهن-مهدی-قائدی|script-title=fa:خوشحالی شجاعیان با پیراهن مهدی قائدی |trans-title=Shojaeian's celebration with Mehdi Ghay edi's shirt.|publisher=Varzesh3.com|language=fa|date=30 January 2018 |accessdate=2 February 2018}}</ref>
===Shabab Al Ahli=== During the summer of 2021, Ghayedi was heavily linked with a move to Qatari side Al-Gharafa.<ref>{{cite web |script-title=fa:لاعب الاستقلال الإيراني مهدي قايدي في طريقه إلى الغرافة |url=https://staddoha.com/اخبار/الاخبار-المحلية/أخبار-كرة-القدم/لاعب-الاستقلال-الإيراني-مهدي-قايدي-في/ |website=استاد الدوحة |language=ar |date=13 August 2021}}</ref> However on 23 August 2021, he signed for Emerati side Shabab Al Ahli on a five-year contract.<ref>{{cite tweet|user=AlBayanSports|number=1429789746771992577|script-title=fa:شركة نادي شباب الأهلي لكرة القدم، تتعاقد مع اللاعب الدولي الإيراني مهدي قائدي "22 سنة" لمدة 5 مواسم، تدعيماً لصفوف الفريق الأول للمرحلة المقبلة|date=23 August 2021|language=ar}}</ref>
==International career==
===Youth=== Ghayedi was selected by manager Amir Hossein Peiravani to join the Iran under-20 team for the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup. After sitting on the bench for Iran's opening match against Costa Rica, Ghayedi made his tournament debut against Zambia, playing for 18 minutes in Iran's 4–2 defeat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.varzesh3.com/news/1417753/ایران-2-زامبیا-4-؛-توفان-آفریقایی-در-10-دقیقه|title=ایران 2 - زامبیا 4 ؛ توفان آفریقایی در 10 دقیقه |language=fa<!-- script-title doesn't work well here -->}}</ref> He also played for a few minutes against Portugal as Iran lost the match and was knocked out of the competition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.varzesh3.com/news/1418308/ایران-1-پرتغال-2؛-با-دو-ویدئو-چک-حذف-شدیم|title=ایران 1- پرتغال 2؛ با دو ویدئو چک حذف شدیم|language=fa<!-- script-title doesn't work well here -->}}</ref>
===Senior=== [[File:Hong Kong v Iran (17) (cropped).jpg|thumb|213x213px|Ghayedi with Iran at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup]] On 8 October 2020, Ghayedi made his senior international debut in a friendly against Uzbekistan.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-10-08 |title=Uzbekistan vs. Iran 1 - 2 |url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2020/10/08/world/friendlies/uzbekistan/iran/3287333/ |access-date=2020-10-09 |website=soccerway.com}}</ref>
==Style of play== Ghayedi often uses nutmeg skill for dribbling in one-on-one situations. He is also known for his use of long range shots.<ref>{{cite web |script-title=fa:گل اول استقلال به پرسپولیس توسط قایدی |url=https://video.varzesh3.com/video/219343/گل-اول-استقلال-به-پرسپولیس-توسط-قایدی/ |website=ویدیو ورزش سه |date=26 August 2020 |language=fa}}</ref>
==Personal life==
=== Political views === On 24 January 2026, Ghayedi shared on Instagram a poem by the 11th-century Persian poet Ferdowsi, "Surely, come to mourn with us... from the sight of the blood that has fallen to the earth." He did so in reaction to a video from the 2025–2026 Iranian protests showing a father in Kahrizak searching for the body of his son, who was killed by regime forces.<ref>https://www.iranintl.com/202601244057</ref> On 31 January, rumors began circulating that Ghayedi would withdraw from the national team in response to the government's suppression of the protests; however, the FFRI dismissed the claims as false.<ref>https://www.iranintl.com/202601310090</ref>
==Career statistics==
===Club=== {{updated|match played 6 January 2026}}<ref name="SW" >{{Soccerway|483756}}</ref>
{|class="wikitable"style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{Efn|Includes Hazfi Cup, UAE League Cup and UAE President's Cup}} !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!goals |- |Iranjavan |2016–17 |Azadegan League |29||10||1||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||30||10 |- |rowspan="5"|Esteghlal |2017–18 |Persian Gulf Pro League |12||0||2||0||1{{efn|name=ACL|Appearance(s) in AFC Champions League}}||0||colspan="2"|–||15||0 |- |2018–19 |Persian Gulf Pro League |10||3||2||0||3{{efn|name=ACL}}||0||colspan="2"|–||15||3 |- |2019–20 |Persian Gulf Pro League |30||10||5||2||6{{efn|name=ACL}}||3||colspan="2"|–||41||15 |- |2020–21 |Persian Gulf Pro League |29||6||5||0||6{{efn|name=ACL}}||3||colspan="2"|–||40||9 |- !colspan="2"|Total !81!!19!!14!!2!!16!!6!!colspan="2"|–!!111!!27 |- |Shabab Al Ahli |2021–22 |UAE Pro League |22||4||3||1||1||0||0||0||26||5 |- |Esteghlal (loan) |2022–23 |Persian Gulf Pro League |29||12||5||0||colspan="2"|–||1{{efn|Appearance in Iranian Super Cup}}||0||35||12 |- |rowspan="3"|Kalba FC (loan) |2023–24 |UAE Pro League |25||12||3||3||0||0||6||1||34||16 |- |2024–25 |UAE Pro League |23||16||2||2||0||0||1||0||26||19 |- !colspan="2"|Total !48||28||5||5||0||0||7||1||60||34 |- |Al-Nasr |2025–26 |UAE Pro League |6||2||0||0||0||0||5||2||11||4 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !215||75||28||8||17||6||13||3||273||92 |}
{{notelist}}
===International=== {{updated|match played 31 March 2026}}<ref name="teammelli">{{cite web|title=Statistics: Iran [Team Melli]|url=https://www.teammelli.com/matchdata/details/player.php?id=663}}</ref><ref name="NFT">{{cite web|url=http://www.national-football-teams.com/player/79701/Mehdi_Ghayedi.html|title=Ghayedi, Mehdi|website=National Football Teams|access-date=18 March 2018}}</ref>
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by national team and year !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="6"|Iran |2020||2||1 |- |2021||6||1 |- |2023||2||0 |- |2024||15||7 |- |2025||2||0 |- |2026||2||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total!!29!!10 |}
:''Scores and results list Iran's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Ghayedi goal''.
{| class="wikitable sortable" |+ List of international goals scored by Mehdi Ghayedi !scope="col"|No. !scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Venue !scope="col"|Opponent !scope="col"|Score !scope="col"|Result !scope="col"|Competition |- |style="text-align:center"|1 |{{dts|12 November 2020}} |Koševo City Stadium, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina |{{fb|BIH}} |style="text-align:center"|'''2'''–0 |style="text-align:center"|2–0 |Friendly |- |style="text-align:center"| 2 |{{dts|11 June 2021}} |Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa, Bahrain |{{fb|CAM}} |style="text-align:center"|'''9'''–0 |style="text-align:center"|10–0 |2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |- |style="text-align:center| 3 |rowspan="2"|{{dts|9 January 2024}} |rowspan="2"|Al Rayyan Training, Al Rayyan, Qatar |rowspan="2"|{{fb|IDN}} |style="text-align:center"|'''4'''–0 |rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|5–0 |rowspan="2"|Friendly |- |style="text-align:center| 4 |style="text-align:center"|'''5'''–0 |- |style="text-align:center| 5 ||{{dts|14 January 2024}} |Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar |{{fb|PLE}} |style="text-align:center"|'''3'''–0 |style="text-align:center"|4–1 |2023 AFC Asian Cup |- |style="text-align:center| 6 ||{{dts|19 January 2024}} |Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar |{{fb|HKG}} |style="text-align:center"|'''1'''–0 |style="text-align:center"|1–0 |2023 AFC Asian Cup |- |style="text-align:center|7 |26 March 2024 |Ashgabat Stadium, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan |{{fb|TKM}} |style="text-align:center"|'''1'''–0 |style="text-align:center"|1–0 |2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |- |style="text-align:center|8 |10 September 2024 |Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates |{{fb|UAE}} |style="text-align:center"|'''1'''–0 |style="text-align:center"|1–0 |2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |- |style="text-align:center"|9 |14 November 2024 |New Laos National Stadium, Vientiane, Laos |{{fb|PRK}} |style="text-align:center"|'''1'''–0 |style="text-align:center"|3–2 |2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |- |style="text-align:center"|10 |31 March 2026 |Corendon Airlines Park, Antalya, Turkey |{{fb|CRC}} |style="text-align:center"|'''5'''–0 |style="text-align:center"|5–0 |2026 Jordan International Tournament |}
==Honours==
'''Esteghlal'''<ref name="SW" /> *Hazfi Cup: 2017–18 * Iranian Super Cup: 2022
'''Individual''' *Persian Gulf Pro League most assists: 2019–20 *AFC Best Young Player of the Year: 2020<ref>{{cite web |title=Mehdi Ghayedi wins Asia's Choice – Best Young Player of 2020 |url=https://www.the-afc.com/news/afcsection/mehdi-ghayedi-wins-asia-s-choice-best-young-player-of-2020 |website=the-AFC}}</ref> *AFC Asian Cup Team of the Tournament: 2023<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.instagram.com/afcasiancup/p/C3QKV9Juw4F/ |title=Team of the Tournament |website=Instagram.com |publisher=AFC Asian Cup |date=2024-02-12 |access-date=2024-02-12}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons}} *{{Instagram|mehdighayedi10}} *{{FIFA player|403236}}
{{Al-Nasr SC squad}} {{Navboxes |title = Iran squads |bg = white |fg = #DA0000 |bordercolor = #239F40 |list1= {{Iran squad 2023 AFC Asian Cup}} {{Iran squad 2026 FIFA World Cup}} }} {{2023 AFC Asian Cup Team of the Tournament}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ghayedi, Mehdi}} Category:1998 births Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Bushehr Category:Iranian men's footballers Category:Iranian expatriate men's footballers Category:Men's association football forwards Category:Men's association football wingers Category:F.C. Iranjavan Bushehr players Category:Shahin Bushehr F.C. players Category:Esteghlal F.C. players Category:Shabab Al Ahli Club players Category:Kalba FC players Category:Al-Nasr SC (Dubai) players Category:Azadegan League players Category:Persian Gulf Pro League players Category:UAE Pro League players Category:Iran men's under-20 international footballers Category:Asian Games footballers for Iran Category:Footballers at the 2018 Asian Games Category:Iran men's international footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the United Arab Emirates Category:Iranian expatriate sportspeople in the United Arab Emirates Category:21st-century Iranian sportsmen Category:2023 AFC Asian Cup players Category:2026 FIFA World Cup players