View source for Ali Karimi

{{short description|Iranian footballer}}
{{about|the Iranian footballer born 1978|other people}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Ali Karimi
| image = Ali Karimi in Mashhad.jpg
| upright = 
| caption = Karimi in 2015
| full_name = Mohammad Ali Karimi Pashaki<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2006/PDF/FWC_2006_SquadLists.pdf |title=2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players: Iran |publisher=FIFA |page=14 |date=21 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190610174527/https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2006/PDF/FWC_2006_SquadLists.pdf |archive-date=10 June 2019}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|11|8|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Karaj]], [[Imperial State of Iran|Iran]]
| height = 1.78 m<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/germany2006/teams/team=43817.html | title = 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany | publisher = FIFA | access-date = 26 February 2012 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120410155301/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/germany2006/teams/team%3D43817.html | archive-date = 10 April 2012}}</ref>
| position = [[Attacking midfielder]], [[forward (association football)|forward]]
| currentclub = 
| youthyears1 = 1990–1991
| youthclubs1 = [[Naft Tehran F.C.|Naft Tehran]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.hamshahrimags.com/Images/News/AtachFile/15-9-1389/FILE634273386575065000.pdf | title = Tamashagar Vol. 23 pp 46–47 | publisher = hamshahrimags.com | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120309024347/http://www.hamshahrimags.com/Images/News/AtachFile/15-9-1389/FILE634273386575065000.pdf | archive-date = 9 March 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.mardomsalari.com/Template1/Article.aspx?AID=8849#58401 | script-title = fa:يک بازي بزرگ حداقل شايستگي سربازان فوتبال ايران | publisher = Mardomsalari Newspaper | language = fa | access-date = 26 February 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120321065955/http://www.mardomsalari.com/Template1/Article.aspx?AID=8849#58401 | archive-date = 21 March 2012 | url-status = dead}}</ref>
| youthyears2 = 1991–1994
| youthclubs2 = [[Saipa F.C.|Saipa]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://alikarimi8.ir/pe/# |title=Ali Karimi's official website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111211070409/http://alikarimi8.ir/pe/ |archive-date=11 December 2011 }}</ref>
| youthyears3 = 1994–1996
| youthclubs3 = [[Fath Tehran F.C.|Fath Tehran]]
| years1 = 1996–1998
| clubs1 = [[Fath Tehran F.C.|Fath Tehran]]
| caps1 = 
| goals1 = 
| years2 = 1998–2001
| clubs2 = [[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]]
| caps2 = 42
| goals2 = 11
| years3 = 2001–2005
| clubs3 = [[Al-Ahli (Dubai)|Al-Ahli]]
| caps3 = 69
| goals3 = 45
| years4 = 2005–2007
| clubs4 = [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]]
| caps4 = 33
| goals4 = 3
| years5 = 2007–2008
| clubs5 = [[Qatar Sports Club|Qatar SC]]
| caps5 = 26
| goals5 = 5
| years6 = 2008–2009
| clubs6 = [[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]]
| caps6 = 21
| goals6 = 5
| years7 = 2009–2011
| clubs7 = [[Steel Azin F.C.|Steel Azin]]
| caps7 = 40
| goals7 = 14
| years8 = 2011
| clubs8 = [[FC Schalke 04|Schalke 04]]
| caps8 = 1
| goals8 = 0
| years9 = 2011–2013
| clubs9 = [[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]]
| caps9 = 40
| goals9 = 13
| years10 = 2013–2014
| clubs10 = [[Tractor Sazi F.C.|Tractor Sazi]]
| caps10 = 26
| goals10 = 5
| totalcaps = 298
| totalgoals = 101
| nationalyears1 = 1999
| nationalteam1 = [[Iran national under-23 football team|Iran U23]]
| nationalcaps1 = 3<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/tablesd/dunhill99.html | title = Dunhill Cup 1999 (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) | website = RSSSF | date = 15 December 1999 | access-date = 18 January 2018 | first = Josef | last = Bobrowsky}}</ref>
| nationalgoals1 = 2
| nationalyears2 = 1998–2012
| nationalteam2 = [[Iran national football team|Iran]]
| nationalcaps2 = 127
| nationalgoals2 = 38
| medaltemplates = {{Medal|Country|{{Fb|IRN}}}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[Asian Games]]}}
{{Medal|1st|[[1998 Asian Games|1998 Bangkok]]|[[Football at the 1998 Asian Games|Team]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[AFC Asian Cup]]}}
{{Medal|3rd|[[2004 AFC Asian Cup|2004 China]]|}}
| manageryears1 = 2014
| managerclubs1 = [[Iran national football team|Iran]] (assistant)<ref>{{cite web | url = https://financialtribune.com/articles/art-and-culture/1306/karimi-to-assist-queiroz | title = Karimi to Assist Queiroz | website = Financial Tribune | date = 27 September 2014 | access-date = 18 January 2018}}</ref>
| manageryears2 = 2017
| managerclubs2 = [[Naft Tehran F.C.|Naft Tehran]]
| manageryears3 = 2018
| managerclubs3 = [[Sepidrood Rasht S.C.|Sepidrood]]
| manageryears4 = 2018–2019
| managerclubs4 = [[Sepidrood Rasht S.C.|Sepidrood]]
}}
'''Mohammad Ali Karimi Pashaki''' ({{langx|fa|محمد علی کریمی پاشاکی}} {{IPA|fa|æli kæriˈmi|lang|Ali Karimi.ogg}}; born 8 November 1978) is an Iranian [[association football|football]] coach and former professional player. During his professional football career, he has played as a playmaker in the [[Persian Gulf Pro League|Iran Pro League]], [[UAE Pro League]], [[Qatar Stars League]] and [[Bundesliga]]. Karimi has scored 38 goals in 127 matches for the [[Iran national football team|Iran national team]]. In 2004, he was recognized as the best scorer of the [[2004 AFC Asian Cup|AFC Asian Cup]] and received the [[Asian Footballer of the Year]] award in the same year. He announced his retirement at the end of the 2013–14 season and, on 11 April 2014, played the final game of his 18-year career.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://iplstats.com/Week30/EST_PER_30.htm |title=Esteghlal TEH 1 – 3 Traktor TBZ |publisher=iplstats.com |date=11 April 2014 |access-date=23 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140727041041/http://iplstats.com/Week30/EST_PER_30.htm |archive-date=27 July 2014}}</ref>

Karimi's professional career began with Fath Tehran, where he made his first-team debut in 1996, aged 18. He then played three seasons with Persepolis, winning the Iranian league twice and the Hazfi Cup once with the club. In July 2001, Karimi signed a two-year contract with [[UAE Pro League]] club Al-Ahli Dubai.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Karimi is Iran dangerman |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2002/1638786.stm |work=BBC |location=London |date=5 November 2001 |access-date=24 July 2014 }}</ref> While an [[Al Ahli Club (Dubai)|Al-Ahli]] player, Karimi won two cup titles, and was the top goalscorer in the [[2003–04 UAE Football League|2003–04 season]], an impressive feat for a midfielder. After leaving the club in 2005 aged 26, Karimi made a long-awaited move to Europe to play for [[Bayern Munich]]. At the club, he had relative success, winning both the [[Bundesliga]] and the [[DFB-Pokal]] in [[2005–06 Bundesliga|2005–06 season]]. Later in his career, he rejoined former coach Felix Magath and won a second German Cup with [[Schalke 04]]. Karimi ended his playing career in Iran with [[Persepolis]] and [[Tractor Sazi F.C.|Tractor Sazi]], and with the latter won the [[Hazfi Cup]] in the final season of his career.

Karimi made his debut for Iran on 13 October 1998 at the age of 19. He made 127 career appearances in total, appearing at five major tournaments, including [[Football at the 1998 Asian Games|1998 Asian Games]], [[2000 Asian Cup|2000]], [[2004 Asian Cup|2004]], and [[2007 Asian Cup]]s and [[2006 FIFA World Cup]]. Renowned for his on-the-ball skill, dribbling runs and playmaking ability, he was often referred to as the ''Asian Maradona''<ref>{{cite web | url = http://espnfc.com/columns/story/_/id/911809/john-duerden:-karimi-could-rise-to-the-top?cc=5901 | title = Karimi could rise to the top | publisher = ESPN FC | date = 26 April 2011 | access-date = 17 June 2013 | first = John | last = Duerden}}</ref>{{rlm}}<ref name="Kicker Maradona" dir="ltr">{{cite web |date=4 October 2004 |title=Iran: Star der Mannschaft freut sich auf das Duell gegen die Klinsmann-Elf.Asiens Maradona |url=https://www.kicker.de/asiens-maradona-305330/artikel |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117080656/https://www.kicker.de/asiens-maradona-305330/artikel |archive-date=17 November 2022 |access-date= |publisher=kicker}}</ref> and ''The Magician''.<ref name="Fifa Wizard" dir=ltr>{{cite web |url=http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/southafrica2010/news/newsid=1056594/index.html|title=Wizard back to steer Iran|publisher= FIFA website|date=13 May 2009|access-date= |archive-date=5 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130205081515/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/southafrica2010/news/newsid=1056594/index.html|url-status=dead }}</ref> In the video introducing Iran's national football team in the [[2018 FIFA World Cup|2018 World Cup]], by [[FIFA]], he was described as "One of the top 2 players of Iran's football history".<ref name="Fifa TV"/> He is regarded as one of the greatest Asian footballers of all time.<ref name="Asian Icons" dir=ltr>{{cite web |url=https://www.the-afc.com/news/afcsection/asian-icons-ali-karimi-39866|title=Asian Icons: Ali Karimi|publisher=AFC website|date=8 November 2017|access-date= |archive-date=6 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180806081522/https://www.the-afc.com/news/afcsection/asian-icons-ali-karimi-39866|url-status=live }}</ref>{{rlm}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espnfc.com/blog/espn-fc-united-blog/68/post/1961237/asia-loses-a-legend-as-ali-karimi-retires |title=Asia loses a legend as Karimi retires |publisher=[[ESPN]] |date=27 July 2014 |access-date=27 July 2014 | first = John | last = Duerden}}</ref> In 2017, [[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]] named Karimi as "one of the icons of Asian football history".<ref name="Asian Icons"/>

Karimi is known as one of the most popular athletes in the history of Iran. In April 2015, he was recognized as Iran's most popular football player (from 1991 to 2015) in a poll by ''[[Navad]]'' television program.<ref name="Karimi Navad" dir=ltr>{{cite web |url=https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2015/04/28/724448/ali-karimi-chosen-as-iran-s-most-popular-player-tv-poll|title=Ali Karimi Chosen as Iran's Most Popular Player: TV Poll|publisher=Tasnim News Agency|date=28 April 2015|access-date= |archive-date= 1 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101202423/https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2015/04/28/724448/ali-karimi-chosen-as-iran-s-most-popular-player-tv-poll|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Club career==
Karimi started his professional career with second-division side Fath Football Club in 1997 where training was conducted on the streets with a plastic ball.

===Persepolis===
In 1998, Karimi joined [[Persepolis FC|Persepolis]] football club, which won the domestic double in 1999 and the championship again in 2000. He attended a trial with [[Perugia Calcio]], but the transfer was aborted when Perugia deemed the transfer fee too high.<ref name="world soccer 2003" dir=ltr>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldsoccer.com/news/ali_karimi_news_55745.html |title=Ali Karimi |date=2 September 2003 |publisher=World Soccer |access-date=8 July 2010 |archive-date=29 October 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041029163205/http://www.worldsoccer.com/news/ali_karimi_news_55745.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> There was also reportedly an offer from Spain's [[Atlético Madrid]] who were willing to pay Karimi £4.3 million in a four-year contract. Still, Karimi opted for United Arab Emirates side Al-Ahli because he wanted to stay close to home.<ref name=cbc/><ref>{{cite web |date=30 August 2001 |title=İran'ın yeni yıldızı |url=http://webarsiv.hurriyet.com.tr/2001/08/30/22411.asp |access-date=30 July 2014 |publisher=Hürriyet}}</ref>

===Al-Ahli===
Karimi signed with [[Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai FC|Al Ahli]] in the United Arab Emirates in 2001 for a reported salary of $1.3 million for two years.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://gulfnews.com/uae/karimi-signs-a-two-year-contract-with-al-ahli-club-1.419319 | title = Karimi signs a two-year contract with Al Ahli Club | website = gulfnews.com | date = 20 June 2001 | access-date = 5 December 2019 | first = Sayed | last = Ali}}</ref> In that season, Al-Ahli managed to win its first trophy, when they became the Winners of the President Cup in 2001–02 season.

He scored a league-high 14 goals for Al Ahli in 2004.<ref name=cbc>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/worldcup2006/stars/bios/karimi-ali.html |title=Ali Karimi – Iran |publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] |access-date=8 July 2010}}</ref> In June 2020, he was named the best foreign player in the [[UAE League]] as well.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irannewsdaily.com/2020/06/ali-karimi-best-foreign-player-of-uae-league/amp/|title=Ali Karimi, Best Foreign Player of UAE League|date=21 June 2020|access-date=5 July 2020|archive-date=6 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200706083545/https://irannewsdaily.com/2020/06/ali-karimi-best-foreign-player-of-uae-league/amp/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Bayern Munich===
[[File:Ali Karimi Bayern Munich vs Persepolis 2006.jpg|thumbnail|right|Karimi with [[Roy Makaay]] and [[Michael Ballack]] during a game in 2006]]

On 3 May 2005, [[Bundesliga]] champions [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]]'s website announced that as its first new player for the 2005–06 season, it signed Karimi with a one-year contract, as the third Iranian player of this team, after [[Ali Daei]] (1998–99) and [[Vahid Hashemian]] (2004–05).<ref>{{cite web|title=Bayern swoop for Iran star Karimi|url=http://www.fcbayern.t-com.de/en/news/news/2005/03939.php?fcb_sid=ca324b72903047818b273eabeb3a6f26|publisher=The official FC Bayern Munich website|access-date=18 September 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Iran star Karimi seals Bayern move|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2005/SPORT/football/05/03/germany.bayern/|publisher=CNN|access-date=18 September 2006 | date=3 May 2005}}</ref> After the friendly match between Iran and Germany in October 2004, Karimi was noticed by the Bayern Munich club. He received the best score in ''[[Kicker (sports magazine)|kicker]]'' magazine after [[Jens Lehmann]].<ref name="Kicker 2004" dir=ltr>{{cite web |url=https://www.kicker.de/iran-gegen-deutschland-2004-nationalteams-freundschaftsspiele-673760/analyse|title=Iran 0:2 Deutschland |publisher=kicker |date=9 October 2004|access-date=9 November 2022 |archive-date=17 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617234445/http://kicker.de/news/fussball/nationalelf/startseite/fussball-nationalteams-freundschaftsspiele/2004/3/673760/spielanalyse_iran_deutschland.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Karimi entered the field in the second half of the first week of the Bundesliga against [[Borussia Mönchengladbach]].<ref name="Mönchengladbach 2005" dir="ltr">{{cite web |date=4 August 2005 |title=Spieltag Bayern Munich vs Borussia Mönchengladbach |url=https://www.kicker.de/bayern-gegen-mgladbach-2005-bundesliga-723012/aufstellung |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109173654/https://www.kicker.de/bayern-gegen-gladbach-2005-bundesliga-723012/aufstellung |archive-date=9 November 2022 |access-date=9 November 2022 |publisher=kicker |language=de}}</ref> In the second week's 5–2 victory against [[Bayer Leverkusen]], he was recognized as the second best player of the match by scoring a goal and providing an assist.<ref name="Leverkusen" dir="ltr">{{cite web |date=13 August 2005 |title=Spieltag Bayern Munich vs Bayer Leverkusen |url=https://www.kicker.de/leverkusen-gegen-bayern-2005-bundesliga-723015/aufstellung |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109183048/https://www.kicker.de/leverkusen-gegen-bayern-2005-bundesliga-723015/aufstellung |archive-date=9 November 2022 |access-date=9 November 2022 |publisher=kicker |language=de}}</ref> Six weeks into the league, Karimi scored his second goal assist in the Bundesliga, setting the stage for a 1–0 win against [[Eintracht Frankfurt]] and was recognized as the man of the match.<ref name="Frankfurt" dir="ltr">{{cite web |date=20 September 2005 |title=Spieltag Bayern Munich vs Eintracht Frankfurt |url=https://www.kicker.de/frankfurt-gegen-bayern-2005-bundesliga-723058/aufstellung |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109195658/https://www.kicker.de/frankfurt-gegen-bayern-2005-bundesliga-723058/aufstellung |archive-date=9 November 2022 |access-date=9 November 2022 |publisher=kicker |language=de}}</ref> In week 16 of the Bundesliga, he provided his third assist against Kaiserslautern.<ref name="Kaiserslautern" dir="ltr">{{cite web |date=11 December 2005 |title=Spieltag Bayern Munich vs Kaiserslautern |url=https://www.kicker.de/bayern-gegen-klautern-2005-bundesliga-723147/schema |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109202655/https://www.kicker.de/bayern-gegen-klautern-2005-bundesliga-723147/schema |archive-date=9 November 2022 |access-date=9 November 2022 |publisher=kicker |language=de}}</ref> At the end of the half-season of the Bundesliga, which was accompanied by Bayern's 2-1 victory over [[Borussia Dortmund]], Karimi scored again.<ref name="Borussia Dortmund" dir="ltr">{{cite web |date=17 December 2005 |title=Spieltag Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund |url=https://www.kicker.de/dortmund-gegen-bayern-2005-bundesliga-723152/ticker |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221110035934/https://www.kicker.de/dortmund-gegen-bayern-2005-bundesliga-723152/ticker |archive-date=10 November 2022 |access-date=10 November 2022 |publisher=kicker |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.fcbayern.t-com.de/en/news/matchreport/2005/06562.php?fcb_sid=48f8bf83e376cb4c91f36a57891e2a43 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060307135715/http://www.fcbayern.t-com.de/en/news/matchreport/2005/06562.php?fcb_sid=48f8bf83e376cb4c91f36a57891e2a43 | archive-date = 7 March 2006 | title = Battling Bayern hold on for record win | first = Chris | last = Hamley | date = 17 December 2005 | website = FC Bayern Munich | access-date = 8 July 2010}}</ref> He was also recognized as Bayern Munich's best player by scoring 2.5 points from ''kicker'' magazine in the 22nd Bundesliga match, which ended with a 1–1 draw against [[Hannover 96|Hannover]].<ref name="Hannover" dir="ltr">{{cite web |date=18 February 2006 |title=Spieltag Bayern Munich vs Hannover |url=https://www.kicker.de/hannover-gegen-bayern-2006-bundesliga-723201/aufstellung |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221110043417/https://www.kicker.de/hannover-gegen-bayern-2006-bundesliga-723201/aufstellung |archive-date=10 November 2022 |access-date=10 November 2022 |publisher=kicker |language=de}}</ref>

Karimi made his 25th appearance for Bayern on 4 March 2006 against Hamburg, which resulted in an automatic 12-month extension to his one-year contract that expired on 30 June 2007. But Karimi was injured in the same game and missed all Bayern Munich matches until the end of the 2005-2006 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/member-association-news/central-a-south-asia-news/5268 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120917110439/http://www.the-afc.com/en/member-association-news/central-a-south-asia-news/5268 |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 September 2012 |title=Karimi injured, contract with Bayern renewed |date=10 March 2006 |publisher=Asian Football Confederation |access-date=8 July 2010 }}</ref>

He played 3 times in the [[UEFA Champions League]]<ref name="KARIMI Kicker 2005-2006" dir="ltr">{{cite web |date=10 November 2022 |title=Spiele von Ali Karimi 2005-2006 |url=https://www.kicker.de/ali-karimi/spieler-einsaetze/bundesliga/2005-06/fc-bayern-muenchen |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221110075716/https://www.kicker.de/ali-karimi/spieler-einsaetze/bundesliga/2005-06/fc-bayern-muenchen |archive-date=10 November 2022 |access-date=10 November 2022 |publisher=kicker |language=de}}</ref> before getting injured, scoring in his first game against [[Rapid Vienna]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fcbayern.t-com.de/en/news/matchreport/2005/06294.php?fcb_sid=48f8bf83e376cb4c91f36a57891e2a43 |title=Rampant Reds book place in last sixteen | first = Chris | last = Hamley |date=22 November 2005 |publisher=FC Bayern.com |access-date=8 July 2010}}</ref> By scoring against Rapid Vienna,<ref name="Rapid Vienna Kicker" dir="ltr">{{cite web |date=22 November 2005 |title=Spieltag Bayern Munich vs Rapid Vienna |url=https://www.kicker.de/bayern-gegen-rapid-wien-2005-champions-league-740751/schema |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221110065315/https://www.kicker.de/bayern-gegen-rapid-wien-2005-champions-league-740751/schema |archive-date=10 November 2022 |access-date=10 November 2022 |publisher=kicker |language=de}}</ref> Karimi became the only Iranian Bayern Munich player to score in the UEFA Champions League.<ref name="KARIMI Kicker 2005-2006"/>{{rlm}}<ref name="Daei Kicker 1998-1999" dir="ltr">{{cite web |date=10 November 2022 |title=Spiele von Ali Daei 1998-1999 |url=https://www.kicker.de/ali-daei/spieler-einsaetze/bundesliga/1998-99/fc-bayern-muenchen |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221110084630/https://www.kicker.de/ali-daei/spieler-einsaetze/bundesliga/1998-99/fc-bayern-muenchen |archive-date=10 November 2022 |access-date=10 November 2022 |publisher=kicker |language=de}}</ref>{{rlm}}<ref name="Hashemian Kicker 2004-2005" dir="ltr">{{cite web |date=10 November 2022 |title=Spiele von Hashemian 2004-2005 |url=https://www.kicker.de/vahid-hashemian/spieler-einsaetze/bundesliga/2004-05/fc-bayern-muenchen |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221110095232/https://www.kicker.de/vahid-hashemian/spieler-einsaetze/bundesliga/2004-05/fc-bayern-muenchen |archive-date=10 November 2022 |access-date=10 November 2022 |publisher=kicker |language=de}}</ref> Before the injury, Karimi played in 20 Bundesliga games, two [[DFB-Pokal]] games, one [[DFL-Ligapokal]] game and three UEFA Champions League games.<ref name="KARIMI Kicker 2005-2006"/>

Karimi's average scores in the [[Bundesliga]] and the [[UEFA Champions League]] in the 2005–06 season are the best among the three Iranian players in the ''kicker'' magazine.<ref name="KARIMI Kicker 2005-2006"/>{{rlm}}<ref name="Daei Kicker 1998-1999"/>{{rlm}}<ref name="Hashemian Kicker 2004-2005"/>

Karimi, who was still suffering from the previous season's injury, was injured again before the start of the 2006-2007 season and missed the season's opening games. By the end of the 2006–07 season, he played 16 games (13 Bundesliga games - two UEFA Champions League games and one DFL-Ligapokal game).<ref name="KARIMI Kicker 2006-2007" dir="ltr">{{cite web |date=10 November 2022 |title=Spiele von Ali Karimi 2006-2007 |url=https://www.kicker.de/ali-karimi/spieler-einsaetze/bundesliga/2006-07/fc-bayern-muenchen |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221110162227/https://www.kicker.de/ali-karimi/spieler-einsaetze/bundesliga/2006-07/fc-bayern-muenchen |archive-date=10 November 2022 |access-date=10 November 2022 |publisher=kicker |language=de}}</ref>

In the 32nd week of the Bundesliga, Karimi became the foundation for Bayern's 1–1 draw against [[Borussia Mönchengladbach]] by sending a goal assist.<ref name="Mönchengladbach 2007" dir=ltr>{{cite web |url=https://www.kicker.de/mgladbach-gegen-bayern-2007-bundesliga-763594/ticker|title= Spieltag Bayern Munich vs Borussia Mönchengladbach 2007 |publisher= kicker | language = de |date=5 May 2007|access-date=10 November 2022 |archive-date=10 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221110170422/https://www.kicker.de/gladbach-gegen-bayern-2007-bundesliga-763594/ticker|url-status=live}}</ref> In week 34 of the Bundesliga, he played his last game for Bayern in a 5–2 win against [[1. FSV Mainz 05|Mainz]]<ref name="KARIMI Kicker 2006-2007"/> and scored for the last time in Bayern Munich. In this competition after [[Mehmet Scholl]]; Karimi was recognized as the second-best player of Bayern together with [[Hasan Salihamidžić]] by scoring 2.5 from ''kicker'' magazine.<ref name="Mainz 2007" dir=ltr>{{cite web |url=https://www.kicker.de/bayern-gegen-mainz-2007-bundesliga-763616/aufstellung|title=Spieltag Bayern Munich vs Mainz 2007 |publisher= kicker | language = de |date=5 May 2007|access-date=10 November 2022 |archive-date=11 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711194753/https://fcbayern.com/en/news/2019/11/looking-back-ali-karimi-fires-bayern-to-victory|url-status=live}}</ref>

In two seasons in Bayern Munich, Karimi played 42 games<ref name="Bayern Birthday" dir=ltr>{{cite web |url=https://fcbayern.com/en/news/2019/11/looking-back-ali-karimi-fires-bayern-to-victory|title=Ali Karimi fires Bayern to victory|publisher=fcbayern|date=8 November 2019|access-date=10 November 2022 |archive-date=11 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711194753/https://fcbayern.com/en/news/2019/11/looking-back-ali-karimi-fires-bayern-to-victory|url-status=live}}</ref> (33 Bundesliga games, 5 UEFA Champions League games, 2 DFB-Pokal games and 2 DFL-Ligapokal games) and became the record holder for the most number of games among the three Iranian players of this team. Karimi ended his career in Bayern Munich by scoring four goals and sending four assists.<ref name="Bayern Birthday"/> In 2017, the [[Transfermarkt]] website named Karimi among the best players who joined Bayern Munich from 1998 to 2017 as a free agent (a player who is eligible to sign a contract with any team and whose contract has expired with his previous team) and performed well. In this team have been placed.<ref name="transfermarkt 1" dir="ltr">{{cite web |date=18 January 2017 |title=Rudy, Borowski & Co. : So schlugen sich Bayerns ablösefreie Neuzugänge |url=https://www.transfermarkt.de/rudy-borowski-amp-co-so-schlugen-sich-bayerns-ablosefreie-neuzugange/view/news/261625/page/0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209120644/https://www.transfermarkt.de/rudy-borowski-amp-co-so-schlugen-sich-bayerns-ablosefreie-neuzugange/view/news/261625/page/0 |archive-date=9 December 2019 |access-date=10 November 2022 |publisher=transfermarkt}}</ref>
{{Quote box|width=20%|align=right|quote="My first year at Bayern, a pleasure to play with this legend Ali Karimi. He is the best ever from Iran,"|source=[[Lukas Podolski]], Ali Karimi's teammate in Bayern Munich / 2020<ref name="Podolski" dir=ltr>{{cite web |url=https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2020/04/27/2251960/ex-bayern-forward-podolski-lauds-iran-s-ali-karimi|title=Ex-Bayern Forward Podolski Lauds Iran's Ali Karimi |publisher =Tasnim News Agency|date=27 April 2020|access-date= |archive-date=27 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200427201510/https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2020/04/27/2251960/ex-bayern-forward-podolski-lauds-iran-s-ali-karimi|url-status=live}}</ref>{{rlm}}<ref name="Podolski isna" dir=ltr>{{cite web |url=https://www.isna.ir/news/99020705192/پودولسکی-باعث-افتخارم-است-در-بایرن-کنار-کریمی-بودم|title=پودولسکی: باعث افتخارم است در بایرن کنار کریمی بودم|publisher=Iranian Students News Agency|date=26 April 2020|access-date= |archive-date=28 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200428163101/https://www.isna.ir/news/99020705192/پودولسکی-باعث-افتخارم-است-در-بایرن-کنار-کریمی-بودم|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

After Karimi's position in support of the [[Mahsa Amini protests|2022 Iranian protests]] following the [[death of Mahsa Amini]],<ref name="merkur Mahsa" dir="ltr">{{cite web |date=27 September 2022 |title=Ex-Bayern-Spieler Ali Karimi unterstützt Proteste im Iran - Behörden konfiszierten nun sein Haus |url=https://www.merkur.de/sport/fc-bayern/fc-bayern-muenchen-ali-karimi-proteste-iran-mullah-frauen-schalke-bundesliga-91815277.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005044316/https://www.merkur.de/sport/fc-bayern/fc-bayern-muenchen-ali-karimi-proteste-iran-mullah-frauen-schalke-bundesliga-91815277.html |archive-date=5 October 2022 |access-date= |publisher=merkur}}</ref> FC Bayern Munich announced on 5 November 2022 that "due to concerns regarding the health condition of Ali Karimi and other Iranian players of Bayern Munich, we have long since been in touch with the German ambassador to Tehran. The club is aware of the current critical situation in Iran and is ready to provide any assistance in this matter".<ref name="Mahsa Amini" dir="ltr">{{cite web |date=5 November 2022 |title=FC Bayern sorgt sich um seine iranischen Ex-Spieler |url=https://www.spiegel.de/sport/fussball/iran-proteste-fc-bayern-muenchen-sorgt-sich-um-ali-daei-und-andere-ex-spieler-a-1b260796-6e1f-44ff-b5fc-543fc03c0a7d |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105150211/https://www.spiegel.de/sport/fussball/iran-proteste-fc-bayern-muenchen-sorgt-sich-um-ali-daei-und-andere-ex-spieler-a-1b260796-6e1f-44ff-b5fc-543fc03c0a7d |archive-date=5 November 2022 |access-date=11 November 2022 |publisher=spiegel}}</ref>

=== Qatar SC ===
On 3 July 2007, Karimi announced that he had signed a two-year deal with [[Qatar Sports Club]]. Karimi was believed to have signed a contract worth around [[British pound|£]]3.2 million, with a clause allowing him to return to Europe anytime.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurosport.yahoo.com/03072007/58/bundesliga-karimi-quits-bayern-qatar.html|title=Bundesliga – Karimi quits Bayern for Qatar|publisher=eurosport|access-date=4 July 2007}}{{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

On 13 July 2008, Karimi signed a two-year contract with [[Al-Sailiya Sports Club|Al-Sailiya]] that is said to be worth around [[British pound|£]]4.7 million.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tehrantimes.com/Index_view.asp?code=173194 |title=Ali Karimi joins Al Siliyya of Qatar |date=14 July 2008|work=Tehran Times |access-date=8 July 2010}}</ref>

===Persepolis===
[[File:Ali-Karimi-2008-Semnan.jpg|thumb|left|Karimi as captain of [[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]] before a friendly match]]
Persepolis' then chairman, [[Dariush Mostafavi]], reached an agreement with Karimi after a one-hour-long telephone conversation. Persepolis had to pay Al-Sailiyah to release Karimi from his contract. Mostafavi claimed the release fee was around US$310,000. Karimi joined Persepolis on loan,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.the-afc.com/en/news-centre/member-association-news/279-ir-iran/20403 | title = Karimi joins Persepolis on loan | publisher = the-afc.com | date = 8 September 2008 | access-date = 26 February 2012 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131003233641/http://www.the-afc.com/en/news-centre/member-association-news/279-ir-iran/20403 | archive-date = 3 October 2013}}</ref> and signed with Persepolis on a one-year contract on 6 September 2008.{{cn|date=July 2021}}

Karimi scored his first goal since his return to Persepolis in the [[Tehran derby]]. With Esteghlal leading 1–0, Karimi equalized for Persepolis two minutes from time.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/1277/west-asia/2008/10/04/895381/iran-karimi-saves-persepolis-in-derby |title=Iran: Karimi Saves Persepolis in Derby |date=4 October 2008 |publisher=Goal.com |access-date=8 July 2010}}</ref> On 9 October 2008, Karimi scored a hat trick against Abumoslem but could not prevent Persepolis losing 4–3.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tehrantimes.com/Index_view.asp?code=179641 |title=Karimi hat trick fails to save the day for Persepolis |date=9 October 2008 |work=Tehran Times |access-date=8 July 2010}}</ref>

However, Karimi's contract was not extended, reportedly because of a strained relationship with Persepolis chief executive [[Abbas Ansarifard]].{{cn|date=July 2021}} While Ansarifard claimed that the club offered Karimi a contract, but he did not show up, Karimi claimed that Persepolis kept him waiting for four weeks for nothing.{{cn|date=July 2021}}

===Steel Azin===
[[File:Ali karimi steel Azin.jpg|thumb|Ali Karimi while playing for [[Steel Azin F.C.|Steel Azin]]]]
Karimi joined newly promoted [[Steel Azin F.C.|Steel Azin]] on 29 July 2009 on a one-year deal. He was reported to be paid US$400,000 for the season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/member-association-news/central-a-south-asia-news/24950--snubbed-by-piroozi-karimi-joins-steel-azin |title=Snubbed by Piroozi, Karimi joins Steel Azin |date=30 July 2009 |publisher=AFC |access-date=8 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802133754/http://www.the-afc.com/en/member-association-news/central-a-south-asia-news/24950--snubbed-by-piroozi-karimi-joins-steel-azin |archive-date=2 August 2009}}</ref>

After joining Steel Azin, Karimi scored for four consecutive matches at the start of the season. On 14 August 2009, he scored the second goal in Steel Azin's 4–3 win over Saba.{{cn|date=July 2021}} He scored a brace against Shahin in Steel Azin's 2–1 victory.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/member-association-news/central-a-south-asia-news/25170-karimi-on-target-again-for-steel |title=Karimi on target again for Steel Azin |date=29 August 2009 |publisher=AFC |access-date=8 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130118162100/http://www.the-afc.com/en/member-association-news/central-a-south-asia-news/25170-karimi-on-target-again-for-steel |archive-date=18 January 2013}}</ref> On 4 December 2009, Karimi converted a penalty in the 52nd minute against Pas FC to score his 11th goal of the season.{{cn|date=July 2021}} On 6 March 2010, during his team's match against Saipa, Karimi was sent off for pushing Majid Ayoubi after Ayoubi had fouled him.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iransportspress.com/news/45/ARTICLE/9889/2010-03-08.html |title=Ali Karimi banned for two matches |date=8 March 2010 |publisher=ISP |access-date=8 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100414171818/http://iransportspress.com/news/45/ARTICLE/9889/2010-03-08.html |archive-date=14 April 2010}}</ref>

In January 2010, it was reported that Al-Ahli made an offer of US$500,000 to sign Karimi on a loan deal until the end of the 2009–10 season, which Steel Azin rejected.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/14/asia/2010/01/19/1752630/steel-azin-reject-al-ahli-offer-for-ali-karimi |title=Steel Azin Reject Al Ahli Offer For Ali Karimi | first = Rupert | last = Fryer |date=19 January 2010 |publisher=Goal.com |access-date=8 July 2010}}</ref>

Karimi was sacked by the club in August 2010 for failing to observe the fast requirement during [[Ramadan]], but was reinstated a few days later after paying a fine. The player maintained that he had not shown disrespect to Islam.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-11095904 |title=Iran footballer returns after Ramadan fasting row |first=Keith |last=Adams |work=BBC News |date=26 August 2010 |access-date=25 May 2014}}</ref>

===Schalke 04===
Karimi signed a five-month deal for [[FC Schalke 04|Schalke]] on 31 January 2011 upon passing a medical examination.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.schalke04.com/news/single-view/artikel/schalke-recruit-ali-karimi.html | title = Schalke recruit Ali Karimi |access-date=31 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110203183355/http://www.schalke04.com/news/single-view/artikel/schalke-recruit-ali-karimi.html |archive-date=3 February 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.schalke04.de/teams/bundesligakader/10-ali-karimi.html | title = Ali Karimi | access-date=7 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110529040347/http://www.schalke04.de/teams/bundesligakader/10-ali-karimi.html |archive-date=29 May 2011 }}</ref> He made his first appearance for the German club on 5 April 2011, coming on for [[Raúl González|Raúl]] in the second half in a [[2010–11 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] quarter-final match against [[F.C. Internazionale Milano|Inter Milan]] before coming on as a substitute against [[1. FC Kaiserslautern]] in the German Bundesliga in his second and final match for Schalke. He won the German Cup for the second time before the end of his contract.

===Persepolis===
On 15 June 2011, [[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]] chairman [[Habib Kashani]] announced that they had reached an agreement with Karimi. He played for Persepolis in the [[2011–12 Persian Gulf Cup]] and the [[2011–12 Hazfi Cup]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.iransportspress.com/national-team/10535-ali-karimi-joins-perspolis.html | title = Ali Karimi Joins Perspolis | first = Ali | last = Azim-Araghi | date = 15 June 2011 | access-date = 26 February 2012 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110903004111/http://www.iransportspress.com/national-team/10535-ali-karimi-joins-perspolis.html | archive-date = 3 September 2011}}</ref> This was the second time that Karimi returned to his native club, Persepolis. Karimi was also appointed as Club captain. He made his debut in a match against [[Malavan F.C.|Malavan]] and scored his first goal in the season for Persepolis in a match against [[Shahrdari Tabriz F.C.|Shahrdari Tabriz]]. He extended his contract with Persepolis for another season on 18 June 2012. He was injured a few times during the season and was unable to perform very well and at the end of the season, he announced his retirement from football.

===Tractor Sazi===
On 13 June 2013, Karimi returned from retirement and joined [[Tractor Sazi F.C.|Tractor Sazi]], signing a one-year contract with Tractor Sazi. He made his first appearance for Tractor Sazi in [[Iran Pro League]] against his former club [[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]]. Karimi scored his first goal in the [[Iran Pro League]] in Tractor's 4–2 win over [[Zob Ahan F.C.|Zob Ahan]]. He helped Tractor to win [[2013–14 Hazfi Cup|the season]]'s [[Hazfi Cup]], his first title in Iranian football after his return from [[European Football]].

On 20 July 2014, Karimi announced his retirement by publishing a letter on his YouTube account.<ref>{{cite web |date=20 July 2014 |title= |script-title=fa:!خبر شوک آور: علی کریمی از فوتبال خداحافظی کرد |url=http://isport.ir/fa/content/56422/%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%B1-%D8%B4%D9%88%DA%A9-%D8%A2%D9%88%D8%B1-%D8%B9%D9%84%DB%8C-%DA%A9%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%85%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D9%81%D9%88%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%AE%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B8%DB%8C-%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%AF |access-date=20 July 2014 |publisher=isport.ir |language=fa}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.varzesh3.com/news.do?itemid=1153591&title=_%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%8A_%DA%A9%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%85%D9%8A_%D8%A7%D8%B2_%D9%81%D9%88%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84_%D8%AE%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B8%D9%8A_%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%AF_ | script-title=fa:علي کريمي از فوتبال خداحافظي کرد | language = fa | publisher = varzesh3.com | date = 20 July 2014 | access-date = 20 July 2014}}</ref> At the time, Karimi was aged 35 and played professional football for 18 years.

==International career==
[[File:Ali Karimi of Iran wears symbolic green wrist bands before the 2010 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers match between Iran and South Korea at Seoul World Cup Stadium.jpg|thumb|Karimi playing for Iran against [[South Korea national football team|South Korea]], [[Seoul World Cup Stadium]]]]
Karimi made his debut for [[Iran national football team|Iran national team]] in October 1998 in a match against [[Kuwait national football team|Kuwait]].<ref name=tm>{{cite web |url=http://www.teammelli.com/Roster/KarimiRoster.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041222181444/http://teammelli.com/Roster/KarimiRoster.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 December 2004 |title=Roster Ali Karimi |access-date=8 July 2010 |publisher=teammelli.com }}</ref> That same year, he won the [[Gold Medal]] with Iran at the [[1998 Asian Games]]. Karimi scored one of Iran's two goals in the final against Kuwait.

He was also one of Iran's main players in its [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification]] campaign. In 2001, after losing to Bahrain and drawing with Thailand, Iran finished second in their qualifying group. It had to play a home-and-away play-off with the [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]] for a spot at the 2002 World Cup. Karimi started as an attacking midfielder in the first game in Dublin and used his acceleration on the break and his dribbling to attack Ireland's defense. However, he was also off target on a number of occasions, and Iran lost the match 2–0. They won the return leg 1–0 but missed the final.<ref name="f">{{cite web |url=http://www.teammelli.com/articles/Iran%92s%20Karimi%20%93on%20a%20high%94%20after%20finding%20scoring%20touch.htm |title=Iran's Karimi "on a high" after finding scoring touch |date=16 August 2004 |publisher=FIFAworldcup.com |access-date=29 October 2017| via=www.teammelli.com}}</ref>

At the [[2004 Asian Cup]], Karimi scored five goals, making him joint top scorer. Iran finished third in the overall tournament, behind [[Japan national football team|Japan]] and [[China national football team|China]]. In the quarter-final, Karimi scored a hat trick in Iran's 4–3 win over South Korea.<ref name="f" /> Karimi was given the prestigious [[Asian Player of the Year]] award in 2004, joining his fellow Iranians, Mahdavikia in 2003, [[Ali Daei]] in 1999, and [[Khodadad Azizi]] in 1996.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iransportspress.com/?c=118&a=1265 |title=Ali Karimi Voted Asian Player of the Year |date=7 December 2004 |publisher=ISP |access-date=8 July 2010}}</ref> He also won the [[2004 West Asian Football Federation Championship]] with ''Team Melli''.

His performance in the [[Iran national football team|Iran]]&ndash;[[Germany national football team|Germany]] friendly game for [[Bam, Iran#2003 earthquake|Bam]] victims held in [[Azadi Stadium]] in [[Tehran]] in October 2004 was said to be the reason behind Bayern's interest in the player.

Coming off a serious ankle injury, Karimi had a poor World Cup finals at [[2006 FIFA World Cup|Germany 2006]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iransportspress.com/?c=126&a=1574 |title=Ivankovic: "national team players deserve to be praised" |date=6 April 2005 |publisher=ISP |access-date=8 July 2010}}</ref> He was unable to exert much influence on proceedings as the Iranians lost 3–1 to [[Mexico national football team|Mexico]] and 2–0 to [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]]. He was substituted in the 65th minute of the Portugal game and kicked the team's sports bags by the dugout. Iran's then manager [[Branko Ivankovic]] said he may drop Karimi in the upcoming game due to disciplinary reasons.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=soccer&id=2492515 |title=World-Karimi may be dropped for disciplinary reasons | first = Iain | last = Rogers |date=20 June 2006 |publisher=ESPN Soccernet US |access-date=8 July 2010}}</ref> Karimi did not play in the 1–1 draw against Angola, but Ivankovic attributed Karimi's omission to his refusal to play because of an injury.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=19&art_id=21326&sid=8535057&con_type=1&d_str=20060623 |title='Professor' studies his options after Iranians' fall |first=Annika |last=Breidthardt |date=23 June 2006 |work=The Standard |access-date=8 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629175707/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=19&art_id=21326&sid=8535057&con_type=1&d_str=20060623 |archive-date=29 June 2011}}</ref>

Karimi played in the [[2007 Asian Cup]]. In May 2008, Karimi was banned from playing in the national team after he made criticisms towards the [[IRIFF]] in the Ardebil training ground,<ref name ="iranproleague">{{cite web | url = http://www.iranproleague.net/news/Morenews.cfm?News=4024 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110720184020/http://www.iranproleague.net/news/Morenews.cfm?News=4024 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 20 July 2011 | title = National team bans Ali Karimi | access-date =26 May 2008 | date = 26 May 2008 | publisher = iranproleague.net}}</ref> but was reinstated in the national squad after intervention from Iranian President [[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]] and [[Hassan Khomeini]], the grandson of revolutionary leader [[Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5isDSzbZv3Y-IEf0XM83EkJlPWS_g | title = Iran's Karimi reinstated after Ahmadinejad intervenes | date = 1 June 2008 | access-date = 26 February 2012 | agency = Agence France-Presse | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111230115221/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5isDSzbZv3Y-IEf0XM83EkJlPWS_g | archive-date = 30 December 2011}}</ref>

In October 2008, Karimi retired from Team Melli. [[Ali Daei]], the then-Iran football coach, said Karimi would never be called up again.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=179917 |title=Ali Karimi out for good, says Daei |date=13 October 2008 |work=Tehran Times |access-date=8 July 2010}}</ref> In April 2009, Karimi announced that he was ready again to serve his country if he was to be picked by Team Melli coach, [[Afshin Ghotbi]].

He played in [[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification]] for Iran and on 10 June 2009, Karimi scored in a 1–0 victory over U.A.E. to keep Iran's 2010 World Cup qualifying hopes alive. On 17 June 2009, he played in Iran's 1–1 draw with South Korea, which eliminated Iran from the 2010 World Cup finals. During the match, a number of Iranian players, including Karimi, wore green wristbands, which were interpreted to be a show of support for [[Iranian opposition]] leader [[Hossein Mousavi]], who accused the Iranian government of vote rigging the election on 12 June. Western media reported after the game that the players who wore the green wristbands had been banned lifetime to play in national team, while a newspaper in Iran reported that the players concerned had retired.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/2009/06/24/2009-06-24_iran_soccer_players_banned.html |title=Iran soccer players banned from national team after wearing green pro-opposition wristbands |first = Andy | last = Clayton |date=24 June 2009 |work=Daily News|location=New York |access-date=8 July 2010}}</ref> On 24 June 2009, FIFA wrote to Iran's football federation asking for clarification on the situation. The Iranian football federation replied that no disciplinary action had been taken against any player.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/iran-says-it-didn-t-punish-soccer-players-1.829278 |title=Iran says it didn't punish soccer players |date=26 June 2009 |publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] |access-date=8 July 2010}}</ref> On 3 March 2010, he returned for the [[2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification]] match against Thailand.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iransportspress.com/news/170/ARTICLE/9877/2010-03-03.html |title=Iran win to seal Asian Cup fate of Robson's Thailand [VIDEO<nowiki>]</nowiki> |date=3 March 2010 |publisher=ISP |access-date=8 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100413074218/http://www.iransportspress.com/news/170/ARTICLE/9877/2010-03-03.html |archive-date=13 April 2010}}</ref>

He was invited to the national football team again by [[Carlos Queiroz]] in 2011 to play in the [[2014 FIFA World Cup qualification]] and played for the team until his retirement in 2013. Queiroz later announced that Karimi was one of his best players during his coaching times. He is currently the third most-capped player and the third-highest scorer of Iran.

==Style of play==
[[File:Ali_karimi_-_germany_14.jpg|thumb|Ali Karimi during a friendly match against [[Germany national football team|Germany]] at Azadi (Freedom) stadium in Tehran, 2004<ref name="Kicker 2004"/>]]
Karimi's most famous football feature is his dribbling skills.<ref name="Kicker 2004"/> In 2003, [[World Soccer (magazine)|World Soccer]] described him as a player with "hypnotic movements and ball work".<ref name="world soccer 2003" /> In 2004, ''[[Kicker (sports magazine)|kicker]]'' magazine called Karimi the "[[Diego Maradona|Maradona]] of Asia" in a report: "He shoots well with both feet, changes direction very quickly and is a player who makes the opposing team dizzy."<ref name="Kicker Maradona"/>

{{Quote box|width=28%|align=left|quote="Ali Karimi made us dizzy with his technique in the friendly match of 2004 (Iran 0 - [[Germany national football team|Germany]] 2)"|source=[[Per Mertesacker]]'s memory of the friendly match between Iran and Germany/2004<ref name="Mertesacker" dir=ltr>{{cite web |url=https://www.dfb.de/news/detail/mertesackers-debuet-kein-anderes-spiel-war-so-beeindruckend-170683/p/2/|title= Mertesackers Debüt: "Kein anderes Spiel war so beeindruckend" |publisher=DFB.de|date=16 July 2017 |archive-date=23 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221123063258/https://www.dfb.de/news/detail/mertesackers-debuet-kein-anderes-spiel-war-so-beeindruckend-170683/p/2/|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
During the coaching of [[Branko Ivankovic]], when the [[Iran national football team|Iran national team]] usually played with a 4-2-3-1 formation, Karimi played mostly in the attacking midfield position. FIFA magazine described Karimi as a professional playmaker in the April 2006 issue.<ref name="Fifa mag 2006" dir=ltr>{{cite web |url=http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/fanfest/magazine/magazine01-06p.1en_3096.pdf |title=32 teams 32 coaches 32 stars|page=14 |publisher=FIFA magazine | first1 = Andreas | last1 = Werz | first2 = Gerorg | last2 = Heitz |date= January 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016082054/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/fanfest/magazine/magazine01-06p.1en_3096.pdf |archive-date=16 October 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

According to [[FIFA]] in 2009, Karimi's "stunning dribbles" are one of the characteristics of Karimi's game, and because of this, he is known as "Magician".<ref name="Fifa Wizard"/>

In a report in 2017, [[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]] called Karimi the "Maradona of Asia" and introduced him as "one of the Icons of Asian football history". In the continuation of this report, "magical dribbling skills" and "a knack for the unpredictable" are mentioned as characteristics of Karimi's game.<ref name="Asian Icons"/>

==Managerial career==
On 25 September 2014, Karimi was named as the assistant coach by [[Carlos Queiroz]] in the [[Iran national football team|Iranian national team]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.persianfootball.com/news/2014/09/25/ali-karimi-named-carlos-queirozs-assistant/ | title = Ali Karimi named Carlos Queiroz's Assistant | publisher = PersianFootball.com | date = 25 September 2014 | access-date = 25 September 2014}}</ref> However, he stepped down from his role shortly before the [[2015 AFC Asian Cup]]. Later in June 2017, he was appointed [[Naft Tehran]] manager but has not signed a contract with the team and left the team before the start of the league. However, Karimi resigned with Naft in September. On 1 January 2018, he became the head coach of [[Sepidrood Rasht S.C.|Sepidrood]] while Sepidrood was in the bottom two, but he kept this team in the [[Persian Gulf Pro League]].

== Personal life ==
Ali Karimi married Sahar Davari in 1999, at the age of 21. The couple has a daughter named Hima and two sons named Havash and Hirsa.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Biography Ali Karimi|url=https://shaboneh.com/%d8%a8%db%8c%d9%88%da%af%d8%b1%d8%a7%d9%81%db%8c-%d8%b9%d9%84%db%8c-%da%a9%d8%b1%db%8c%d9%85%db%8c/}}</ref>

Karimi publicly supported the [[Mahsa Amini protests]] against the government of Iran in late 2022. He posted on [[Instagram]] that not even [[holy water]] could "wash away this disgrace" of [[Death of Mahsa Amini|Amini's death]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Protests shadow Iran's World Cup push |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220928-protests-shadow-iran-s-world-cup-push |access-date=16 October 2022 |publisher=France 24 |date=28 September 2022}}</ref> In addition to his criticism of the government, he used his platform of 14+ million followers to advise Iranians on how to bypass [[Internet censorship in Iran|Internet censorship in their country]].<ref name=nyt>{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Rory |last2=Panja |first2=Tariq |title=Arrests and Warnings as Iranian Soccer Stars Take Side in Protests |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/30/sports/soccer/iran-soccer-protests.html |access-date=16 October 2022 |work=The New York Times |date=30 September 2022}}</ref> Based in Dubai, he was charged ''[[Trial in absentia|in absentia]]'' by Iran with "encouraging riots",<ref>{{cite news |last1=Berger |first1=Miriam |title=Iranian celebrities face arrest, travel bans for supporting protests |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/10/15/iran-protests-mahsa-amini/ |access-date=16 October 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=15 October 2022}}</ref> and his house in [[Lavasan]] was seized by the Iranian state.<ref name=nyt/>

On 21 December 2022, after Karimi's meeting with [[Frank-Walter Steinmeier]], the German president, Steinmeier, emphasized his support for the Iranian protesters.<ref name="President" dir=ltr>{{cite web |url=https://www.iranintl.com/en/202212222851|title=German President Discusses Iran Situation With Dissident Footballer|publisher=Iran International|date=22 December 2022|access-date= |archive-date=22 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222131308/https://www.iranintl.com/en/202212222851|url-status=live }}</ref>

On 18 January 2023, Karimi publicly tweeted his support for exiled crown prince [[Reza Pahlavi, Crown Prince of Iran|Reza Pahlavi]] to assume a role as representative of the Iranian people pending a national referendum.<ref>{{cite news |title=Iranian diaspora divided despite campaign to unify behind ex-crown prince |url=https://amwaj.media/media-monitor/iranian-diaspora-divided-despite-campaign-to-unify-behind-ex-crown-prince |access-date=28 January 2024 |publisher=Amwaj |date=17 February 2023}}</ref>

==Career statistics==

===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref>{{citation|title=Ali Karimi » Club matches|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/person/pe15883/ali-karimi/club-matches/|access-date=10 October 2019|publisher=worldfootball.net}}</ref><ref>{{citation |title=مروری بر کارنامه باشگاهی علی کریمی |date=18 June 2011 |url=http://www.goal.com/iran/news/1825/%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86/2011/06/18/2536472/%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%88%DA%AF%D8%B1-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%B3%D9%88%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D9%BE%D8%B1%D8%B3%D9%BE%D9%88%D9%84%DB%8C%D8 |access-date=1 December 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240526114835/https://www.webcitation.org/6Dq9gfprv?url=http://www.goal.com/iran/news/1825/%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86/2011/06/18/2536472/%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%88%DA%AF%D8%B1-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%B3%D9%88%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D9%BE%D8%B1%D8%B3%D9%BE%D9%88%D9%84%DB%8C%EF%BF%BD |archive-date=26 May 2024 |url-status=live |publisher=goal.com |language=fa}}</ref>
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes [[Iranian Hazfi Cup|Hazfi Cup]], [[DFB-Pokal]]}}
!colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes [[UAE League Cup]], [[DFL-Ligapokal]]}}
!colspan="2"|Continental
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]]
|[[1998–99 Persepolis F.C. season|1998–99]]
|rowspan="3"|[[Azadegan League]]
|13||3||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||13||3
|-
|[[1999–2000 Persepolis F.C. season|1999–2000]]
|10||3||0||0||colspan="2"|—||5{{efn|name=ACC|Appearances in [[Asian Club Championship]]}}||1||15||4
|-
|[[2000–01 Persepolis F.C. season|2000–01]]
|19||5||2||0||colspan="2"|—||8{{efn|name=ACC}}||4||29||9
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!42!!11!!2!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!13!!5!!57!!16
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[Al-Ahli (Dubai)|Al-Ahli]]
|[[2001–02 UAE Football League|2001–02]]
|rowspan="4"|[[UAE League]]
| || 14<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/tablesu/uae02.html | title = United Arab Emirates 2001/02 | publisher = Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation | access-date =26 February 2012 | first = Mohammed | last = Qayed | date = 30 August 2002}}</ref> || || ||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—|| ||
|-
|[[2002–03 UAE Football League|2002–03]]
||| 5<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/tablesu/uae03.html | title = United Arab Emirates 2002/03 | publisher = Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation | access-date =26 February 2012 | first = Mohammed | last = Qayed | date = 25 January 2004}}</ref> || || ||colspan="2"|—||2{{efn|name=ACL}}||0|| || 
|-
|[[2003–04 UAE Football League|2003–04]]
||| 15<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/tablesu/uae04.html | title = United Arab Emirates 2003/04 | publisher = Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation | access-date =26 February 2012 | first = Mohammed | last = Qayed | date = 20 October 2004}}</ref> || || ||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—|| ||
|-
|[[2004–05 UAE Football League|2004–05]]
| || 11<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/tablesu/uae05.html| title = United Arab Emirates 2004/05 | publisher = Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation | access-date =26 February 2012 | first = Mohammed | last = Qayed | date = 1 February 2006}}</ref> || || ||colspan="2"|—||6{{efn|name=ACL}}||2|| ||
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!69!!45!!30!!29!!9!!5!!8!!2!!116!!81
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]]
|[[2005–06 FC Bayern Munich season|2005–06]]
|rowspan="2"|[[Bundesliga]]
|20||2||2||0||1||0||3{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in [[UEFA Champions League]]}}||1||26||3
|-
|[[2006–07 FC Bayern Munich season|2006–07]]
|13||1||0||0||1||0||2{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||16||1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!33!!3!!2!!0!!2!!0!!5!!1!!42!!4
|-
|[[Qatar Sports Club|Qatar SC]]
|[[2007–08 Qatar Stars League|2007–08]]
|[[Qatar Stars League]]
|26||5||2||0||2||1||colspan="2"|—||30||6
|-
|Persepolis
|[[2008–09 Persepolis F.C. season|2008–09]]
|[[Persian Gulf Cup]]
|21||5||1||0||colspan="2"|—||6{{efn|name=ACL}}||2||28||7
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Steel Azin F.C.|Steel Azin]]
|[[2009–10 Persian Gulf Cup|2009–10]]
|rowspan="2"|Persian Gulf Cup
||28||14||3||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||31||15
|-
|[[2010–11 Persian Gulf Cup|2010–11]]
|12||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||12||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!40!!14!!3!!1!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!43!!15
|-
|[[FC Schalke 04|Schalke 04]]
|[[2010–11 FC Schalke 04 season|2010–11]]
|Bundesliga
|1||0||0||0||0||0||1{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||2||0
|-
|rowspan="3"|Persepolis
|[[2011–12 Persepolis F.C. season|2011–12]]
|rowspan="2"|Persian Gulf Cup
|28||12||2||0||colspan="2"|—||7{{efn|name=ACL|Appearances in [[AFC Champions League]]}}||3||37||15
|-
|[[2012–13 Persepolis F.C. season|2012–13]]
|12||1||3||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||15||1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!40!!13!!5!!0!!0!!0!!7!!3!!52!!16
|-
|[[Tractor Sazi F.C.|Tractor Sazi]]
|[[2013–14 Persian Gulf Cup|2013–14]]
|Persian Gulf Cup
|26||5||4||0||colspan="2"|—||5{{efn|name=ACL}}||0||34||5
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!298!!101!!51!!30!!13!!6!!45!!13!!407!!150
|}
{{notelist}}

===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="14"|[[Iran national football team|Iran]]<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/karimi-intl.html | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130202011338/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/Karimi-intl.html | url-status = live | archive-date = 2 February 2013 | title = Ali Mohammed Karimi – International Appearances | publisher = [[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|RSSSF]] | date = 29 February 2012 | access-date = 8 May 2013 | first = Roberto | last = Mamrud}}</ref>
|1998||9||1
|-
|2000||21||9
|-
|2001||19||6
|-
|2002||7||4
|-
|2003||7||4
|-
|2004||17||7
|-
|2005||8||0
|-
|2006||9||4
|-
|2007||6||0
|-
|2008||5||0
|-
|2009||3||1
|-
|2010||1||0
|-
|2011||6||1
|-
|2012||9||1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!127!!38
|}

:''Scores and results list Iran's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Karimi goal.''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Ali Karimi<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/karimi-intl.html | title = Ali Mohammed Karimi - International Appearances | website = RSSSF | date = 15 August 2013 | access-date = 3 August 2017 | first = Roberto | last = Mamrud}}</ref>
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
|-
| align="center"|1 || 19 December 1998 || Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand ||{{fb|KUW}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|2–0 || [[Football at the 1998 Asian Games – Men's tournament|1998 Asian Games]]
|-
| align="center"|2 || 9 April 2000 || Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran ||{{fb|BHR|1972}} || align="center"|2–0 || align="center"|3–0 || [[2000 AFC Asian Cup qualification]]
|-
| align="center"|3 || rowspan="2"|24 May 2000 || rowspan="2"|King Abdullah II Stadium, Amman, Jordan || rowspan="2"|{{fb|KAZ}} || align="center"|1–0 || rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|3–0 || rowspan="2"|[[2000 West Asian Football Federation Championship]]
|-
| align="center"|4 || align="center"|3–0 
|-
| align="center"|5 || 28 May 2000 || King Abdullah II Stadium, Amman, Jordan ||{{fb|SYR|1980}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|1–0 || 2000 West Asian Football Federation Championship
|-
| align="center"|6 || 31 May 2000 || King Abdullah II Stadium, Amman, Jordan ||{{fb|JOR}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|1–0 || 2000 West Asian Football Federation Championship
|-
| align="center"|7 || rowspan="4"|24 November 2000 || rowspan="4"|Takhti Stadium, Tabriz, Iran || rowspan="4"|{{fb|GUM}} || align="center"|3–0 || rowspan="4" style="text-align:center"|19–0 || rowspan="4"|[[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC first round|2002 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| align="center"|8 || align="center"|11–0
|-
| align="center"|9 || align="center"|12–0
|-
| align="center"|10 || align="center"|19–0
|-
| align="center"|11 || 10 August 2001 || Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran ||{{fb|BIH}} || align="center"|2–0 || align="center"|4–0 || [[2001 LG Cup (Iran)|2001 LG Cup Final]]
|-
| align="center"|12 || rowspan="3"|15 August 2001 || rowspan="3"|Tehelné pole, Bratislava, Slovakia || rowspan="3"|{{fb|SVK}} || align="center"|1–0 || rowspan="3" style="text-align:center"|4–3 || rowspan="3"|[[Friendly (association football)|Friendly]]
|-
| align="center"|13 || align="center"|2–0
|-
| align="center"|14 || align="center"|4–3
|-
| align="center"|15 || 7 September 2001 || Al-Shaab Stadium, Baghdad, Iraq ||{{fb|IRQ|1991}} || align="center"|1–1 || align="center"|2–1 || [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round|2002 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| align="center"|16 || 12 October 2001 || Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran ||{{fb|IRQ|1991}} || align="center"|2–1 || align="center"|2–1 || 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
|-
| align="center"|17 || rowspan="2"|6 February 2002 || rowspan="2"| Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran || rowspan="2"|{{fb|SVK}} || align="center"|1–1 || rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|2–3 || rowspan="2"|Friendly
|-
| align="center"|18 || align="center"|2–3
|-
| align="center"|19 || 11 August 2002 || Takhti Stadium, Tabriz, Iran ||{{fb|AZE}} || align="center"|1–1 || align="center"|1–1 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|20 || 3 September 2002 || Abbasiyyin Stadium, Damascus, Syria ||{{fb|LBN}} || align="center"|2–0 || align="center"|2–0 || [[2002 West Asian Football Federation Championship]]
|-
| align="center"|21 || rowspan="2"|12 October 2003 || rowspan="2"|Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran || rowspan="2"|{{fb|NZL}} || align="center"|1–0 || rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|3–0 || rowspan="2"|[[AFC/OFC Cup Challenge]]
|-
| align="center"|22 || align="center"|2–0
|-
| align="center"|23 || rowspan="2"|27 October 2003 || rowspan="2"| Kim Il Sung Stadium, Pyongyang, North Korea || rowspan="2"|{{fb|PRK}} || align="center"|1–0 || rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|3–1 || rowspan="2"|[[2004 AFC Asian Cup qualification]]
|-
| align="center"|24 || align="center"|2–1
|-
| align="center"|25 || 21 June 2004 || Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran ||{{fb|SYR|1980}} || align="center"|6–1 || align="center"|7–1 || [[2004 West Asian Football Federation Championship]]
|-
| align="center"|26 || 25 June 2004 || Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran ||{{fb|SYR|1980}} || align="center"|1–1 || align="center"|4–1 || 2004 West Asian Football Federation Championship
|-
| align="center"|27 || 24 July 2004 || Chongqing Olympic Sports Center, Chongqing, China ||{{fb|OMA}} || align="center"|1–2 || align="center"|2–2 || [[2004 AFC Asian Cup]]
|-
| align="center"|28 || rowspan="3"|31 July 2004 || rowspan="3"| Shandong Provincial Stadium, Shandong, China || rowspan="3"|{{fb|KOR}} || align="center"|1–0 || rowspan="3" style="text-align:center"|4–3 || rowspan="3"|2004 AFC Asian Cup
|-
| align="center"|29 || align="center"|2–1
|-
| align="center"|30 || align="center"|4–3
|-
| align="center"|31 || 6 August 2004 || Workers' Stadium, Beijing, China ||{{fb|BHR}} || align="center"|2–1 || align="center"|4–2 || 2004 AFC Asian Cup
|-
| align="center"|32 || 30 January 2006 || Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran ||{{fb|CRC}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|3–2 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|33 || 28 May 2006 || Gradski Vrt Stadium, Osijek, Croatia ||{{fb|CRO}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|2–2 || Friendly
|-
| align="center"|34 || rowspan="2"|11 October 2006 || rowspan="2"|Taipei Municipal Stadium, Taipei, Chinese Taipei || rowspan="2"|{{fb|TPE}} || align="center"|1–0 || rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|2–0 || rowspan="2"|[[2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification]]
|-
| align="center"|35 || align="center"|2–0
|-
| align="center"|36 || 10 June 2009 || Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran ||{{fb|UAE}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|1–0 || [[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC fourth round|2010 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| align="center"|37 || 23 July 2011 || Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran ||{{fb|MDV}} || align="center"|3–0 || align="center"|4–0 || [[2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round|2014 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
| align="center"|38 || 23 February 2012 || Zabeel Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates ||{{fb|JOR}} || align="center"|1–2 || align="center"|2–2 || Friendly
|}

==Managerial statistics==
{{updated|10 February 2019}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!rowspan=2|Team
!rowspan=2|From
!rowspan=2|To
!colspan=8|Record
|-
!G!!W!!D!!L!!GF!!GA!!+/-!!Win %
|-
|[[Naft Tehran F.C.|Naft Tehran]]
|align="left"|7 September 2017
|align="left"|2 October 2017
{{WDL|3|1|1|1|for=2|against=3|diff=yes}}
|-
|rowspan="2"|[[Sepidrood Rasht S.C.|Sepidrood Rasht]]
|align="left"|1 January 2018
|align="left"|1 July 2018
{{WDL|13|6|3|4|for=11|against=14|diff=yes}}
|-
|align="left"|25 August 2018
|align="left"|''Present''
{{WDL|14|4|4|6|for=8|against=16|diff=yes}}
|-
!colspan=3|Total
{{WDLtot|30|11|8|11|for=20|against=33|diff=yes}}
|}

==Honours==
'''Persepolis'''
* [[Iranian Football League]]: [[1998–99 Azadegan League|1998–99]], [[1999–2000 Azadegan League|1999–2000]]
* [[Hazfi Cup]]: [[1998–99 Hazfi Cup|1998–99]]
* [[Asian Club Championship]]: third place [[1999–2000 Asian Club Championship|1999–2000]], third place [[2000–01 Asian Club Championship|2000–01]]<ref name="Asian Icons"/>

'''Al-Ahli'''
* [[UAE Emir Cup|UAE Cup]]: [[UAE Emir Cup|2001–02]], [[UAE Emir Cup|2003–04]]

'''Bayern Munich'''
* [[Bundesliga]]: [[2005–06 Bundesliga|2005–06]]
* [[DFB-Pokal]]: [[2005–06 DFB-Pokal|2005–06]]

'''Schalke 04'''
*[[DFB-Pokal]]: [[2010–11 DFB-Pokal|2010–11]]

'''Tractor Sazi'''
*[[Hazfi Cup]]: [[2013–14 Hazfi Cup|2013–14]]

'''Iran'''
* [[Football at the Asian Games|Asian Games Gold Medal]]: [[Football at the 1998 Asian Games|1998]]
* [[West Asian Football Federation Championship]]: 2000, 2004
* [[AFC/OFC Cup Challenge]]: 2003
* [[Asian Cup]]: third place [[2004 AFC Asian Cup|2004]]

'''Individual'''
* [[Asian Footballer of the Year]]: 2004; runner-up: 2012
* [[West Asian Football Federation Championship]] [[Most valuable player|MVP]]: 2000
* [[UAE Pro League]] best foreign player: 2002–03
* UAE Pro League best player: 2003–04
* UAE Pro League top scorer: [[2003–04 UAE Football League|2003–04]]
* Best foreign player in [[UAE Pro League]] history (based on a poll run by Al Bayan newspaper in 2020)<ref name="Albayan" dir=ltr>{{cite web |url=https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2020/06/21/2290565/ali-karimi-chosen-as-best-foreign-player-of-uae-league/amp|title=Ali Karimi Chosen as Best Foreign Player of UAE League
|publisher=Tasnim News Agency|date=21 June 2020|access-date= |archive-date=5 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200705121211/https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2020/06/21/2290565/ali-karimi-chosen-as-best-foreign-player-of-uae-league/amp|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Asian Cup]] top scorer: [[2004 AFC Asian Cup|2004]]
* Asian Cup All-Star Team: [[2004 AFC Asian Cup|2004]]
* [[AFC/OFC Cup Challenge]] [[Most valuable player|MVP]]: 2003<ref name="AFC 60th" dir=ltr>{{cite web |url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/news/afc_60th_anniversary_ali_karimi_a_true_asian_icon.html|title=AFC 60th Anniversary: Ali Karimi, a true Asian Icon|publisher=the-afc.com|date=23 November 2014|access-date= |archive-date=22 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122204843/https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/news/afc_60th_anniversary_ali_karimi_a_true_asian_icon.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]] Asian Player of the Month: 2000 (June), 2001 (October), 2003 (October)
* [[Persian Gulf Pro League|iran Pro League]] top scoring midfielder: [[2009–10 Persian Gulf Cup|2009–10]] (14 goals), [[2011–12 Persian Gulf Cup|2011–12]] (12 goals)
* Top scoring midfielder of [[Persepolis F.C.]] in [[AFC Champions League]] (ten goals)
* One of the top 2 players of Iran's football history chosen by [[FIFA]] (Iran national football team's introduction Video for 2018 FIFA World Cup)<ref name="Fifa TV" dir=ltr>{{cite news |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2JZ1h6_mrU |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/h2JZ1h6_mrU| archive-date=12 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=IR IRAN Team Profile – 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia |date=4 June 2018 |work=FIFATV (Youtube) }}{{cbignore}}</ref>
* [[AFC Asian Cup records and statistics#Fans' All-time Best XI|AFC Asian Cup Fans' All-time Best XI]]: 2018<ref name="AFC Best XI" dir=ltr>{{cite web |url=https://www.the-afc.com/features/the-fans-afc-asian-cup-xi-announced|title=Fans' Best XI Announced!|publisher=The-AFC.com|date=16 November 2018|access-date= |archive-date=8 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508184149/https://www.the-afc.com/features/the-fans-afc-asian-cup-xi-announced|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Marca (newspaper)|Marca]] Fans' Top Iranian footballer of all time: 2019<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.marca.com/futbol/2019/04/24/5cc0258d22601d70698b4597.html|title=Who is the best player from each country? There can only be one|date=24 April 2019 |publisher=ISP |access-date=30 December 2019}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons}}
*{{Official website|http://www.alikarimi8.ir/}} (since 2010)
* [https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/karimi-intl.html RSSSF archive of Ali Karimi's international appearances]
*{{NFT player|3178}}

{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg = gold
| fg = navy
| list1 = 
{{2004 AFC Asian Cup Team of the Tournament}}
{{AFC Asian Cup Top Scorers}}
{{UAE Pro-League top scorers}} 
{{Asian Footballer of the Year}}
}}
{{Navboxes colour
|title= Iran squads
|bg= white
|fg= #FF0000
|list1=
{{Iran squad 2000 AFC Asian Cup}}
{{Iran squad 2004 AFC Asian Cup}}
{{Iran squad 2006 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Iran squad 2007 AFC Asian Cup}}
}}
{{Naft Tehran F.C. managers}}
{{List of Iranian refugee and immigrant athletes}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Karimi, Ali}}
[[Category:1978 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:2000 AFC Asian Cup players]]
[[Category:2004 AFC Asian Cup players]]
[[Category:2006 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:2007 AFC Asian Cup players]]
[[Category:Steel Azin F.C. players]]
[[Category:Shabab Al Ahli Club players]]
[[Category:FC Bayern Munich footballers]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Qatar]]
[[Category:FIFA Men's Century Club]]
[[Category:Bundesliga players]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Iran men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Iranian expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Iranian men's footballers]]
[[Category:Footballers from Karaj]]
[[Category:Persepolis F.C. players]]
[[Category:Qatar SC players]]
[[Category:Asian Games gold medalists for Iran]]
[[Category:Asian Games footballers for Iran]]
[[Category:FC Schalke 04 players]]
[[Category:Asian Footballer of the Year winners]]
[[Category:Qatar Stars League players]]
[[Category:Tractor S.C. players]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 1998 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1998 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Persian Gulf Pro League players]]
[[Category:Azadegan League players]]
[[Category:UAE Pro League players]]
[[Category:Iranian expatriate sportspeople in Germany]]
[[Category:Iranian expatriate sportspeople in Qatar]]
[[Category:Iranian football managers]]
[[Category:Iranian activists]]
[[Category:Mahsa Amini protests]]
[[Category:Persian Gulf Pro League managers]]
[[Category:Asian Games gold medalists in football]]
[[Category:Iranian emigrants to the United Arab Emirates]]