Iran's Reza Ghoochannejhad on Brazil 2014

It is quickly becoming apparent that the Iran and Charlton Athletic forward is not your average footballer, with a multitude of off-pitch talents to match his striking prowess on it. As well as his (at least) seven languages, he also plays the violin.

“That is something I definitely want to continue in the future,” the 28-year-old enthused. “It’s not really classical music, it’s more the eastern violin music that I have a passion for. I had lessons for a bit longer than a year. I try once in a while to play it, I don’t have a lot of time.”

Juggling violin practice and learning new languages with life as a professional footballer is certainly far from straightforward, but Ghoochannejhad has managed to do so to admirable effect, most notably at international level. He has a penchant for scoring important goals for Team Melli, bagging the goal that took his country to the 2014 FIFA World Cup™, scoring his country’s only effort at Brazil 2014, as well as a couple of memorable strikes at the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.

“I was very lucky to be in that position,” Ghoochannejhad said. “It’s my job so I enjoy scoring those goals, especially for your country. I always look forward to playing for Iran. It’s different when you’re playing for your club to your country. It’s something difficult to explain but it’s right from the national anthems before the game it’s different.”

Even after [going home after the group stages], people in Iran were proud. That’s the most important thing. At the end of the day you do it for the people. As long as they’re happy, you’re happy too.