# Karim Ansarifard (کریم انصاریفرد)
**Karim Ansarifard** (کریم انصاریفرد; born 1990 in Ardabil, Iran) is an Iranian retired footballer who played as a center-forward and represented Iran at three FIFA World Cups, in 2014, 2018, and 2022[1](https://www.transfermarkt.us/karim-ansarifard/profil/spieler/133838) • [2](https://as.com/us/futbol/karim-ansarifard-el-irani-que-le-anoto-al-manchester-united-y-enfrentara-a-usa-en-qatar-2022-n/). He retired on 1 July 2024, with Aris Saloniki as his last club and Saipa FC the club for which he made the most appearances[1](https://www.transfermarkt.us/karim-ansarifard/profil/spieler/133838).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1990, Ardabil, Iran; height 186 cm; right-footed center-forward[1](https://www.transfermarkt.us/karim-ansarifard/profil/spieler/133838) • [3](https://www.sofascore.com/football/player/karim-ansarifard/144594) |
| International record | Iran caps and goals reported as 104/30 by Transfermarkt and 99/26 by FotMob; debut 10 November 2009 against Iceland, with a goal as a substitute at age 19[1](https://www.transfermarkt.us/karim-ansarifard/profil/spieler/133838) • [4](https://www.fotmob.com/players/117308/karim-ansarifard) • [5](https://www.teammelli.com/player/ansarifard-karim/) |
| League top scorer | Won the Iranian league scoring title twice, in 2011/12 with Saipa at age 22 and in 2013/14 with Tractor Sazi[5](https://www.teammelli.com/player/ansarifard-karim/) |
| World Cups | Squad member in 2014 (22 minutes as a substitute against Bosnia and Herzegovina), regular in 2018, when he scored in a 1–1 draw with Portugal, and in the 2022 squad[5](https://www.teammelli.com/player/ansarifard-karim/) • [2](https://as.com/us/futbol/karim-ansarifard-el-irani-que-le-anoto-al-manchester-united-y-enfrentara-a-usa-en-qatar-2022-n/) |
| Club career | Saipa, Persepolis, Tractor, Osasuna, Panionios, Olympiacos, Nottingham Forest, Al-Sailiya, AEK Athens, Omonia Nicosia, Aris Thessaloniki[4](https://www.fotmob.com/players/117308/karim-ansarifard) |
| Trophies | Hazfi Cup 2013/14 (Tractor), Super League 1 2016/17 (Olympiacos), Cyprus Cup 2022/23 (Omonia Nicosia)[4](https://www.fotmob.com/players/117308/karim-ansarifard) |
| Retirement | Retired since 1 July 2024[1](https://www.transfermarkt.us/karim-ansarifard/profil/spieler/133838) |
## Early career at Saipa
Ansarifard is a product of the Saipa youth system. In the 2007 season, after the club's star striker Mohsen Khalili left, the coach [Ali Daei](https://www.edgepedia.org/ali-daei) promoted him from the reserves to the first team, and the young forward repaid the decision with good goalscoring form[5](https://www.teammelli.com/player/ansarifard-karim/). In 2009/10 he continued to score regularly despite his age, which brought his first national team cap at 19[5](https://www.teammelli.com/player/ansarifard-karim/).
His first major individual honor came in 2011/12, when he won the Iranian league's top scorer title at age 22[5](https://www.teammelli.com/player/ansarifard-karim/).
## Club career
**Iran.** After much speculation, Ansarifard joined [Persepolis](https://www.edgepedia.org/persepolis) at the start of the 2012/13 season and stayed one season before transferring to [Tractor Sazi](https://www.edgepedia.org/tractor-s-c)[5](https://www.teammelli.com/player/ansarifard-karim/). His form at Tractor was crowned with a second golden boot as the league's top scorer in 2013/14, and the club won the Hazfi Cup that season[5](https://www.teammelli.com/player/ansarifard-karim/) • [4](https://www.fotmob.com/players/117308/karim-ansarifard).
**Spain and Greece.** On 30 August 2014, Osasuna announced his signing, pairing him with fellow Iranian Javad Nekounam in a season in which the club played in the Segunda Division after relegation from [La Liga](https://www.edgepedia.org/la-liga)[5](https://www.teammelli.com/player/ansarifard-karim/). After a difficult season there, he joined Panionios in Greece at the start of 2015/16, where he regained his form, scored 9 goals, and helped the club finish fourth in the league[5](https://www.teammelli.com/player/ansarifard-karim/). In January 2017 he transferred from Panionios to the Greek champions Olympiacos[5](https://www.teammelli.com/player/ansarifard-karim/), and he was part of the Olympiacos side that won [Super League](https://www.edgepedia.org/super-league) 1 in 2016/17[4](https://www.fotmob.com/players/117308/karim-ansarifard).
**England and Qatar.** On 3 November 2018, Ansarifard signed for Nottingham Forest of the [EFL Championship](https://www.edgepedia.org/efl-championship), a move delayed for months by the process of obtaining a work permit[3](https://www.sofascore.com/football/player/karim-ansarifard/144594). He spent 2019/20 in Qatar with Al-Sailiya[4](https://www.fotmob.com/players/117308/karim-ansarifard).
**Later years in Greece and Cyprus.** He signed with AEK Athens in August 2020, moved to Omonia Nicosia in August 2022, and finished at Aris Thessaloniki from January to June 2024[3](https://www.sofascore.com/football/player/karim-ansarifard/144594) • [4](https://www.fotmob.com/players/117308/karim-ansarifard). With Omonia he won the Cyprus Cup in 2022/23[4](https://www.fotmob.com/players/117308/karim-ansarifard). In October 2022, playing for Omonia in the Europa League, he scored the goal that put his side ahead against Manchester United at the GSP Stadium; the Cypriot club lost the match 2–3 after the English side came back[2](https://as.com/us/futbol/karim-ansarifard-el-irani-que-le-anoto-al-manchester-united-y-enfrentara-a-usa-en-qatar-2022-n/).
## International career
Ansarifard represented Iran at every age level of the national team setup[5](https://www.teammelli.com/player/ansarifard-karim/). He scored on his senior debut, coming off the bench against Iceland on 10 November 2009, and was a member of Iran's 2011 Asian Cup squad, scoring against [North Korea](https://www.edgepedia.org/north-korea) in the group stage[5](https://www.teammelli.com/player/ansarifard-karim/).
At the 2014 World Cup he played one match, 22 minutes as a substitute against [Bosnia and Herzegovina](https://www.edgepedia.org/bosnia-and-herzegovina)[5](https://www.teammelli.com/player/ansarifard-karim/). In Russia 2018 he was a regular and scored Iran's goal in the 1–1 group-stage draw with Portugal[2](https://as.com/us/futbol/karim-ansarifard-el-irani-que-le-anoto-al-manchester-united-y-enfrentara-a-usa-en-qatar-2022-n/). By the time of Qatar 2022 he had lost his starting place in the attack, where [Sardar Azmoun](https://www.edgepedia.org/sardar-azmoun), Mehdi Taremi, and [Alireza Jahanbakhsh](https://www.edgepedia.org/alireza-jahanbakhsh) were preferred, but he made his third World Cup squad[2](https://as.com/us/futbol/karim-ansarifard-el-irani-que-le-anoto-al-manchester-united-y-enfrentara-a-usa-en-qatar-2022-n/). His national team career ran from January 2009 to March 2024[4](https://www.fotmob.com/players/117308/karim-ansarifard).
## Honours
- Hazfi Cup: 2013/14, with Tractor[4](https://www.fotmob.com/players/117308/karim-ansarifard)
- Super League 1 (Greece): 2016/17, with Olympiacos[4](https://www.fotmob.com/players/117308/karim-ansarifard)
- Cyprus Cup: 2022/23, with Omonia Nicosia[4](https://www.fotmob.com/players/117308/karim-ansarifard)
- Iranian league top scorer: 2011/12 and 2013/14[5](https://www.teammelli.com/player/ansarifard-karim/)
## References
1. [Karim Ansarifard – Player profile, Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.us/karim-ansarifard/profil/spieler/133838)
2. [Karim Ansarifard, el iraní que le anotó al Manchester United y enfrentará a USA en Qatar 2022, AS USA](https://as.com/us/futbol/karim-ansarifard-el-irani-que-le-anoto-al-manchester-united-y-enfrentara-a-usa-en-qatar-2022-n/)
3. [Karim Ansarifard – stats and ratings, Sofascore](https://www.sofascore.com/football/player/karim-ansarifard/144594)
4. [Karim Ansarifard – stats, career and market value, FotMob](https://www.fotmob.com/players/117308/karim-ansarifard)
5. [Karim ANSARIFARD – Team Melli](https://www.teammelli.com/player/ansarifard-karim/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Men's footballers of Asia, the Middle East, and Oceania › Middle Eastern and Central Asian footballers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license