Iran legend Daei putting record thoughts on hold

AFP - Iran skipper Ali Daei is putting thoughts of his goalscoring record on hold as his team look to secure their place in the Asian Cup quarter-finals against Oman here Saturday. 

Daei is now officially recognised as the all-time leading goalscorer in international football, with 95 from 126 matches, and hammered home his latest from the penalty spot in Iran’s 3-0 win over Thailand in Group D on Tuesday. The 35-year-old striker, whose goals total outstrips both second-placed Ferenc Puskas (84 goals in 89 matches) and third-placed Pele (77/91), is now closing in on an unprecedented century. 

But Daei insists he is only focusing on making sure Iran deliver the goods against Oman as they home in on the last eight. “The most important thing is not my record but that the team wins, but yes, I will try to score a goal on Saturday,” said Daei, the former Bayern Munich striker and Asian player of the year. “Oman is a good team and the match is going to be difficult, but we are a better team than Oman and we can win,” added the veteran, almost certainly playing in his last Asian Cup.