Alireza Beiranvand, an Iranian goalkeeper who is currently playing for Portuguese outfit Boavista on loan, has created the Guinness World Record for the longest throw ever in an official football match.
On October 11th, 2016, Beiranvand launched a quite ridiculous throw which travelled three-quarters of the pitch. The throw landed on a teammate but, unfortunately, his teammate pulled his effort wide.
Five years on and the throw has been calculated to have travelled a mammoth 61.26m, which has never been topped in an official football match before.
Beiranvand really can throw a ball further than most goalkeepers can kick it.
“The further distance throw of a football (soccer ball) in a competitive match is 61m 26mm, (200 ft, 1.57in) and was achieved by Alireza Beiranvand (Iran) playing for Iran against South Korea at the Aradi Stadium, Tehran, Iran on 11 October 2016,” the plaque reads.
Beiranvand, 29, has an inspirational story. In his teenage years, Beiranvand ran away from home and moved to Tehran in order to fulfil his dream of becoming a professional footballer.
He was homeless for some time. After working numerous jobs to make ends meet, Beiranvand made his debut for the Iranian top-tier side Naft Tehran in 2011. It's a remarkable story given Beiranvand was sleeping rough just a few years ago as he attempted to forge a career.
He even had to go against his own father, who wanted him working in a normal job instead of playing professional football.
Some of the jobs Beiranvand had include a dressmaker and car washer. He said: "I suffered many difficulties to make my dreams come true but I have no intention of forgetting them because they made me the person I am now."
Three years later he made his debut for his country and, four years after that, he was Iran’s first-choice goalkeeper at the 2018 World Cup, where he saved a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo in a 1-1 draw vs Portugal.