{{Short description|Iranian footballer (born 1992)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Zahra Ghanbari | image = Zahra Ghanbari Persepolis FCW.jpg | caption = Ghanbari with [[Persepolis W.F.C.|Persepolis]] in 2025 | full_name = Zahra Ghanbari | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1992|3|4|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Kangavar]], [[Kermanshah Province|Kermanshah]], Iran | height = 1.71 m | position = [[Forward (association football)|Forward]]<ref name=FD/> | currentclub = [[Persepolis W.F.C.|Persepolis]] | clubnumber = 99 | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = | clubs1 = [[Ghaz Al-Shamal SC]] | years2 = 2013–2025 | clubs2 = [[Bam Khatoon F.C|Bam Khatoon FC]] | years3 = 2020–2021 | clubs3 = {{ill|Vechan Kurdistan|fa|باشگاه فوتبال زنان وچان}} | years4 = 2025– | clubs4 = [[Persepolis W.F.C.|Persepolis WFC]] | nationalyears1 = 2008 | nationalteam1 = [[Iran women's national under-19 football team|Iran U19]] | nationalcaps1 = | nationalgoals1 = | nationalyears2 = 2007– | nationalteam2 = [[Iran women's national football team|Iran]] | nationalcaps2 = 17 | nationalgoals2 = 22 | pcupdate = | ntupdate = March 2026 }}
'''Zahra Ghanbari''' ({{langx|fa|زهرا قنبری}};<ref name=FD/> born 4 March 1992) is an Iranian professional [[women's association football|footballer]] who plays as a [[forward (association football)|forward]] for the [[Kowsar Women Football League]] club [[Persepolis W.F.C.|Persepolis]] and the [[Iran women's national football team|Iran national team]]. She is Iran's [[list of top international women's football goal scorers by country|all-time top goalscorer]].
==Early life and education== Zahra Ghanbari<ref name=afc/> was born on 4 March 1992<ref name=FD>{{Cite web|url=https://footballdokht.ir/player/1-%D8%B2%D9%87%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D9%82%D9%86%D8%A8%D8%B1%DB%8C.html|title=زهرا قنبری|language=fa|access-date=29 June 2020| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20260209023915/https://footballdokht.ir/player/1-%D8%B2%D9%87%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D9%82%D9%86%D8%A8%D8%B1%DB%8C.html| archive-date= 9 Feb 2026}}</ref> in [[Kangavar]], [[Kermanshah Province|Kermanshah]], Iran.<ref name=GSA>{{GSA player|zahra-ghanbari/176090|access-date=29 June 2020}}</ref><ref name=FD/> Kermanshah is the largest [[Kurdish population|Kurdish]]-populated city in Iran and one of the most significant urban centres of [[Kurdish culture]] in the region,<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Pourhassan|first=Narges|last2=Bagherabadi|first2=Rahim|date=2019|title=Representation of Iranian National Identity Among Kermanshah's Kurdish Intellectuals|journal=National Studies Journal|volume=20|issue=4|pages=3–18}}</ref> and Ghanbari is Kurdish.<ref name=isna/>
==Club career== Ghanbari has played in Iraq for the [[Ghaz Al-Shamal SC]] women's team (North Gas Sports Club) team in [[Kirkuk]], which plays in the [[Iraqi Women's Football League]].<ref name=FD/>
In Iran, she has played for [[Bam Khatoon F.C.]] (formerly known as Shahrdari Bam) since at least 2013. She played for {{ill|Vechan Kurdistan|fa|باشگاه فوتبال زنان وچان}} in 2020/2021.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://borna.news/fa/news/1052212/%D8%AD%D8%B6%D9%88%D8%B1-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%AA%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%86-%DA%AF%D9%84%D8%B2%D9%86-%D9%84%DB%8C%DA%AF-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%AA%DB%8C%D9%85-%D9%81%D9%88%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84-%D9%88%DA%86%D8%A7%D9%86|title=حضور برترین گلزن لیگ در تیم فوتبال وچان (The presence of the league's top scorer in the football team of Wechan)| website= Borna News Agency| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240404172441/https://borna.news/fa/news/1052212/%D8%AD%D8%B6%D9%88%D8%B1-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%AA%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%86-%DA%AF%D9%84%D8%B2%D9%86-%D9%84%DB%8C%DA%AF-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%AA%DB%8C%D9%85-%D9%81%D9%88%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84-%D9%88%DA%86%D8%A7%D9%86 |archive-date = 4 April 2024|quote=Zahra Ghanbari, the Kermanshahi striker of the municipality of Bam, last season's champion of the Premier League and the record of women's football scoring, will sign a one-year contract with the representative of Kurdistan this season. This is while there was some whispers of Ghanbari joining Sirjan Municipality, but this morning, the news of the player's agreement with Vachan Sanandaj was officially announced. (via Firefox translator)}}</ref><ref name=isna>{{cite web| url= https://www.isna.ir/news/99061611402/%D9%85%DB%8C-%D8%AE%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%87%D9%85-%D8%AF%DB%8C%D9%86%D9%85-%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D9%87-%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%AF%D9%87%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A7-%DA%A9%D9%86%D9%85|title=می خواهم دَینم را به کُردها ادا کنم (I want to give my faith to the Kurds)|website= [[Iranian Students' News Agency]]| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928164442/https://www.isna.ir/news/99061611402/%D9%85%DB%8C-%D8%AE%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%87%D9%85-%D8%AF%DB%8C%D9%86%D9%85-%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D9%87-%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%AF%D9%87%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A7-%DA%A9%D9%86%D9%85 |archive-date=28 September 2020|quote =...the captain of the Iranian women's national football team, joined the Kurdistan team with a one-year contract ...The conditions of other clubs were better than the team and the Sanandaj team, but because I am Kurdish myself,... (via Firefox translator)}}</ref>
Ghanbari played for Bam Khatoon in the [[2023 AFC Women's Club Championship]] and the [[2024–25 AFC Women's Champions League]], scoring one goal in the latter tournament.<ref name=afc/> In November 2024, Ghanbari was briefly suspended by the [[Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran|Iranian federation]] and forced to apologise for "improper hijab" during a goal celebration at the 2024–25 AFC Women's Champions League. After being forced to apologise, she was allowed to return to the team.<ref>{{cite web | title=Iranian Footballer Suspended and Forced to Apologize for Headscarf Mishap | website= [[IranWire]] | date=1 November 2024 | url=https://iranwire.com/en/women/135648-iranian-footballer-suspended-and-forced-to-apologize-for-headscarf-mishap/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251025012907/https://iranwire.com/en/women/135648-iranian-footballer-suspended-and-forced-to-apologize-for-headscarf-mishap/ | archive-date=25 October 2025 | url-status=live | access-date=11 March 2026}}</ref><ref name=healy2026/>
She moved to [[Persepolis W.F.C.|Persepolis]] in 2025.<ref name=healy2026/>
== International career == Ghanbari is [[Iran women's national football team|Iran's national team]]'s [[List of top international women's football goal scorers by country|all-time top goalscorer]].<ref>{{Cite instagram|postid=CX8qcC5s5y9|user=afcasiancup|title=1️⃣3️⃣ x ⚽️ Zahra Ghanbari is 🇮🇷 Team Melli Baanovaan's highest goal-scorer 🔥|date=26 December 2021}}</ref><ref name=healy2026>{{cite web | last=Healy | first=Jon | title=Who are the Iranian Women's Asian Cup players granted asylum by Australia? | website=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] | date=10 March 2026 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-10/who-are-the-iranian-players-granted-asylum-after-asian-cup/106435656 | access-date=11 March 2026}}</ref>
She played for the international team in the following tournaments (number of goals in parentheses):<ref name=afc>{{cite web | title=Zahra Ghanbari | website =[[Asian Football Confederation]] | url=https://stats.the-afc.com/player/29814 | access-date=11 March 2026}}</ref> * [[AFC Women's Asian Cup]] 2008 (1), 2018 (6), 2022 (0) * [[2009 AFC U-19 Women's Championship|AFC U-19 Women's Championship 2009]] (2) * [[Women's Olympic Football Tournament]] 2020 (6) * [[AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament]] 2024 (0) * [[2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup|AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026]]
On 9 March 2026, after the national team was eliminated from the [[2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup]] in Australia, Ghanbari (who played in all three games{{citation needed|date=March 2026}}), along with four teammates from the Iranian women's national football team, [[Defection of Iran women's national football team|left the team's training camp]] in Australia and sought asylum. This was due to concerns about possible retaliation from Iranian authorities after the team had refrained from singing the national anthem after the opening game, which was shortly after the start of the [[2026 Iran war]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Australia urged to offer Iran women's team refuge amid fears of backlash after refusing to sing anthem |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/football/2026/03/09/australia-urged-to-offer-iran-womens-team-refuge-amid-fears-of-backlash-after-refusing-to-sing-anthem/ |access-date=2026-03-09 |website=The National |language=en}}</ref> The [[Australian Government]] granted humanitarian visas to the players.<ref name=healy2026/> On 15 March, Iranian state media reported that Ghanbari had withdrawn her asylum application and would return to Iran via Malaysia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Iran women's football captain withdraws Australia asylum bid: state media |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20260315-iran-women-s-football-captain-withdraws-australia-asylum-bid-state-media |access-date=2026-03-15 |website=France 24 |language=en}}</ref>
Ghanbari was one of a number of Iranians to have their assets seized by the [[Iranian Government]], but they were released by a court decision around 12 April 2026, based on her "change in behaviour".<ref>{{cite web | title=Iran releases assets of football captain in Australia asylum row | website=France 24 | date=13 April 2026 | url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20260413-iran-releases-assets-of-football-captain-in-australia-asylum-row | access-date=13 April 2026}}</ref> {{clear}}
==Career statistics== {{no sources|section|date=March 2026}}
{| class="wikitable" |- ! No. !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition |- | 1. || 4 October 2011 || [[Zayed Sports City Stadium]], [[Abu Dhabi]], [[UAE]] || {{fbw|LBN}} || align=center|'''8'''–1 || align=center| 8–1 || [[2011 WAFF Women's Championship]] |- | 2. || 5 April 2017 || rowspan=6| Vietnam YFT Center, [[Hanoi]], [[Vietnam]] || {{fbw|SIN}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || align=center| 6–0 || rowspan=6| [[2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification]] |- | 3. || 9 April 2017 || {{fbw|VIE}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || align=center| 1–6 |- | 4. || rowspan=4| 11 April 2017 || rowspan=4| {{fbw|SYR|1980}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || rowspan=4 align=center| 12–0 |- | 5. || align=center|'''5'''–0 |- | 6. || align=center|'''9'''–0 |- | 7. || align=center|'''11'''–0 |- | 8. || rowspan=3| 8 November 2018 || rowspan=3| [[Institute of Physical Education Chonburi Campus Stadium|Institute of Physical Education Stadium]], [[Chonburi (city)|Chonburi]], [[Thailand]] || rowspan=3| {{fbw|LBN}} || align=center|'''2'''–0 || rowspan=3 align=center| 8–0 || rowspan=3| [[2020 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament]] |- | 9. || align=center|'''4'''–0 |- | 10. || align=center|'''6'''–0 |- | 11. || rowspan=2| 25 November 2018 || rowspan=2| [[Milliy Stadium]], [[Tashkent]], [[Uzbekistan]] || rowspan=2| {{fbw|AFG}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 6–0 || rowspan=2| [[2018 CAFA Women's Championship]] |- | 12. || align=center|'''3'''–0 |- | 13. || rowspan=2| 6 April 2019 || rowspan=2| [[Saoud bin Abdulrahman Stadium]], [[Al Wakrah]], [[Qatar]] || rowspan=2| {{fbw|PLE}} || align=center|'''7'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| 9–0 || rowspan=3| 2020 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament |- | 14. || align=center|'''8'''–0 |- | 15. || 9 April 2019 || [[Grand Hamad Stadium]], [[Doha]], Qatar || {{fbw|TPE}} || align=center|'''1'''–4 || align=center| 1–4 |- | 16. || 15 November 2022 || [[Ararat Stadium]], [[Tehran]], [[Iran]] || {{fbw|BLR}} || align=center|'''1'''–0 || align=center| 1–1 || rowspan=4| [[Exhibition match|Friendly]] |- | 17. || rowspan=3| 10 June 2025 || rowspan=3| National Football Center Field 2, Tehran, Iran || rowspan=3| {{fbw|IRQ}} || align=center|'''3'''–0 || rowspan=3 align=center| 8–0 |- | 18. || align=center|'''5'''–0 |- | 19. || align=center|'''?'''–0 |- | 20. || 10 July 2025 || rowspan=2| [[King Abdullah II Stadium]], [[Amman]], [[Jordan]] || {{fbw|SGP}} || align=center|'''4'''–0 || align=center| 4–0 || rowspan=2| [[2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification]] |- | 21. || 13 July 2025 || {{fbw|BHU}} || align=center|'''5'''–1 || align=center| 7–1 |- | 22. || 24 October 2025 || [[Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Shillong|Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium]], [[Shillong]], [[India]] || {{fbw|NEP}} || align=center|'''2'''–0 || align=center| 3–0 || Friendly |- |}
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{wikinews|Australia grants refuge to five Iranian women's national soccer team players}} {{Commons category}} * {{Soccerway}}
{{Iran squad 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ghanbari, Zahra}} [[Category:1992 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Iranian women's footballers]] [[Category:Iran women's international footballers]] [[Category:Women's association football forwards]] [[Category:Sportspeople from Kermanshah province]] [[Category:Iranian expatriate women's footballers]] [[Category:Iranian expatriate sportspeople in Iraq]] [[Category:Expatriate women's footballers in Iraq]] [[Category:21st-century Iranian sportswomen]] [[Category:Bam Khatoon F.C. players]] [[Category:Persepolis W.F.C. players]] [[Category:2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup players]] [[Category:Iranian Kurdish women]]