Record International Goal Scorer Ali Daei, Ryan Giggs Retire

Chances are that if you wandered down to your local pub and asked your fellow patrons to name the footballer who scored the most international goals over his career the names Pele and Ferenc Puskas might be uttered. The correct answer, however, is Ali Daei, an Iranian striker who announced his retirement this week.

Daei scored 109 international goals in 148 games for Iran. The Wizard of Tehran also spent time in Germany playing for Arminia Bielfeld, Bayern Munich and Hertha Berlin, but it was on the international level where he had his most success, helping Iran qualify for the World Cup in 1998 and 2006. He’s heading to the coaching world now.

Also retiring today, albeit just from international competition, is Ryan Giggs. The Fiver provides an excellent look at his career for Wales. I’ll always remember his international career for the commercials he did for the World Cups his country missed out on.