Iran goalkeeper to auction Ronaldo’s penalty save glove, boots to aid flood victims

IR Iran international goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand has vowed to auction his goalkeeping gloves from his 2018 FIFA World Cup match against Portugal to help the victims of devastating floods in his home nation.
As many as 70 people have been reported dead in the deadly floods that has ravaged 26 of 31 provinces in Iran piling more misery on the country’s economy already riling under sanctions imposted by the United States.
And as a gesture to help the thousands who have been displaced by the massive floods, Iran’s national team hero Beirnvand has reportedly decided to auction his 2018 World Cup gloves and boots with which he denied superstar Cristiano Ronaldo from the penalty spot.
“The Nowruz New Year got off to a bad start for my compatriots and my province. Sadly, lives were lost; many houses were destroyed and the people have nowhere to live. I will auction the gloves and boots I wore at the 2018 World Cup against Portugal. These are very precious to me,”Beiranvand was quoted as saying by the Persia Digest.
Team Melli were pooled with Portugal, Spain and Morocco in Group of the World Cup in Russia last summer and Carlos Queiroz’s men had defeated Morocco 1-0 and then conceded a narrow defeat to Spain in their first two group games.
In the third and final group match, they faced Portugal having a chance to reach the knockout stages of the World Cup and create history for Iranian football. Ricardo Quaresma had given Portugal a 1-0 lead just before half time before the European champions were awarded a penalty in the second half.
Ronaldo stepped up to take it, but Bieranvand denied the then-Real Madrid man by making a diving save and keep his team in the game. Karima Ansarifard then scored in the injury time to earn a 1-1 draw, though Iran, with four points, crashed out finishing behind Portugal and Spain — both with five points apiece.
The 26-year-old goalkeeper plays for Persian Gulf Pro League side Persepolis FC