Ahmed Radhi


Ahmed Radhi Humaiesh Al-Salehi was an Iraqi footballer who played as a forward.
Regarded as one of Iraq and Asia's best players of all-time, Radhi scored the only Iraqi goal in the FIFA World Cup during its 1986 edition, a low shot to the corner of the net against Belgium in the 2–1 defeat. He was voted the 1988 Asian Footballer of the Year.

Club career

Radhi started to make a name for himself after he was forced to switch childhood club Al-Zawraa for new powerhouse Al-Rasheed, the club founded and owned by Saddam Hussein's eldest son Uday. Alongside fellow legend Adnan Dirjal, Radhi led the club to reaching the 1988–89 Asian Club Championship final, losing to Qatari side Al Sadd on away goals. He later had a four year spell at Al-Wakrah in Qatar before finishing his career with Al-Zawraa.

International career

Radhi was given his debut for Iraq against Jordan on 21 February 1982 by Ammo Baba, who acknowledged his talent and supported the player in his first years of senior football. Coach Baba however left Radhi out of the 1984 Summer Olympics squad citing a lack of effort by the player. Het then scored 8 goals in World Cup qualification, leading Iraq to a first World Cup finals, in Mexico in 1986.
With Iraq he won 2 Arab Cups, 1 Pan-Arab Games & a Gulf Cup, while he also did represent Iraq in the Olympics in 1988, scoring a goal each in games against Zambia and Guatemala. In 1988, he was voted Asian player of the year and 9th best Asian player of the century in 1999.

Personal life

Radhi had three daughters and one son.
He fled Iraq in 2006 for the sectarian violence and moved with his family to the Jordanian capital Amman, but returned to Iraq in 2007 for a career in politics. In October 2007, he was nominated by the opposition Iraqi Accord Front to the Council of Representatives of Iraq, replacing Abd al-Nasir al-Janabi, who had resigned to join the insurgency.
He was an unsuccessful candidate in the 2014 and 2018 elections with the National Alliance, a coalition of Sunni and Shia figures.

Death

Radhi was admitted into Al Nuaman General Hospital in Adhamiyah on 13 June 2020 after contracting COVID-19. He left the hospital to be readmitted on 18 June after his condition worsened. On 21 June, Radhi was pronounced dead at the age of 56 following complications from COVID-19.
Details about his death were later revealed, that he was about to be taken to be treated in Jordan, but delays in finalizing his medical report postponed the proposed flight. However, the death happened after Radhi removed his artificial ventilation to go to the restroom by himself, later on the medical staff found him dead.

Career statistics

International goals

#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.10 October 1983Sharjah Stadium, Sharjah2–22–21984 Olympics qual.
2.25 March 1984Royal Oman Police Stadium, Muscat1–21–27th Arabian Gulf Cup
3.15 March 1985Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium, Kuwait City5–06–01986 World Cup qualifier
4.15 March 1985Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium, Kuwait City6–06–01986 World Cup qualifier
5.18 March 1985Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium, Kuwait City1–06–01986 World Cup qualifier
6.18 March 1985Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium, Kuwait City2–06–01986 World Cup qualifier
7.18 March 1985Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium, Kuwait City3–06–01986 World Cup qualifier
8.29 March 1985King Abdullah Stadium, Amman3–23–21986 World Cup qualifier
9.19 April 1985Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium, Kuwait City1–02–01986 World Cup qualifier
10.5 May 1985Yuva Bharati Krirangan, Calcutta1–02–11986 World Cup qualifier
11.6 August 1985Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca2–02–01985 Pan Arab Games
12.14 August 1985Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca1–02–11985 Pan Arab Games
13.14 August 1985Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca2–02–11985 Pan Arab Games
14.1 November 1985Al-Shaab Stadium, Baghdad3–13–1Friendly match
15.8 June 1986Estadio Nemesio Díez, Toluca1–21–21986 FIFA World Cup
16.21 September 1986Daegu Stadium, Daegu4–04–01986 Asian Games
17.23 September 1986Daegu Stadium, Daegu5–15–11986 Asian Games
18.27 March 1987Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium, Kuwait City1–11–11988 Olympics qual.
19.8 April 1987National Stadium, Manama2–13–1Friendly match
20.8 April 1987National Stadium, Manama3–13–1Friendly match
21.1 May 1987Al-Rashid Stadium, Dubai1–03–01988 Olympics qual.
22.8 January 1988Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Muscat4–14–11988 Olympics qual.
23.25 February 1988Stade El Menzah, Tunis1–02–0Friendly match
24.8 March 1988King Fahd Stadium, Riyadh1–01–09th Arabian Gulf Cup
25.13 March 1988King Fahd Stadium, Riyadh2–03–09th Arabian Gulf Cup
26.13 March 1988King Fahd Stadium, Riyadh3–03–09th Arabian Gulf Cup
27.16 March 1988King Fahd Stadium, Riyadh1–02–09th Arabian Gulf Cup
28.9 July 1988Amman International Stadium, Amman1–01–11988 Arab Nations Cup
29.15 July 1988Amman International Stadium, Amman1–02–01988 Arab Nations Cup
30.15 July 1988Amman International Stadium, Amman1–02–01988 Arab Nations Cup
31.19 July 1988Amman International Stadium, Amman1–03–01988 Arab Nations Cup
32.17 September 1988Daejeon Hanbat Stadium, Daejeon1–02–21988 Olympic Games
33.19 September 1988Daejeon Hanbat Stadium, Daejeon1–03–01988 Olympic Games
34.27 January 1989Al-Shaab Stadium, Baghdad1–03–11990 World Cup qualifier
35.3 February 1989Al-Shaab Stadium, Baghdad1–04–01990 World Cup qualifier
36.3 February 1989Al-Shaab Stadium, Baghdad2–04–01990 World Cup qualifier
37.3 February 1989Al-Shaab Stadium, Baghdad3–04–01990 World Cup qualifier
38.3 February 1989Al-Shaab Stadium, Baghdad4–04–01990 World Cup qualifier
39.10 February 1989Al-Shaab Stadium, Baghdad1–02–21990 World Cup qualifier
40.3 November 1989Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium, Kuwait City1–06–21989 Peace and Friendship Cup
41.3 November 1989Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium, Kuwait City2–06–21989 Peace and Friendship Cup
42.8 November 1989Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium, Kuwait City1–12–11989 Peace and Friendship Cup
43.8 November 1989Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium, Kuwait City2–12–11989 Peace and Friendship Cup
44.12 November 1989Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium, Kuwait City1–01–11989 Peace and Friendship Cup
45.3 March 1990National Stadium, Kuwait City1–22–210th Arabian Gulf Cup
46.18 August 1992National Stadium, Irbid1–013–0Friendly match
47.18 August 1992National Stadium, Irbid5–013–0Friendly match
48.18 August 1992National Stadium, Irbid7–013–0Friendly match
49.18 August 1992National Stadium, Irbid10–013–0Friendly match
50.18 August 1992National Stadium, Irbid13–013–0Friendly match
51.20 August 1992National Stadium, Irbid1–03–0Friendly match
52.20 August 1992National Stadium, Irbid2–03–0Friendly match
53.25 April 1993Changwon Civic Stadium, Changwon1–11–1Friendly match
54.26 May 1993National Stadium, Irbid5–16–11994 World Cup qualifier
55.28 May 1993National Stadium, Irbid4–08–01994 World Cup qualifier
56.30 May 1993National Stadium, Irbid1–01–01994 World Cup qualifier
57.14 June 1993Chengdu Sports Centre, Chengdu4–04–01994 World Cup qualifier
58.16 June 1993Chengdu Sports Centre, Chengdu3–03–01994 World Cup qualifier
59.22 October 1993Khalifa International Stadium, Doha1–02–11994 World Cup qualifier
60.24 October 1993Khalifa International Stadium, Doha1–01–11994 World Cup qualifier
61.28 October 1993Khalifa International Stadium, Doha1–12–21994 World Cup qualifier
62.23 May 1997Lahore Stadium, Lahore6–26–21998 World Cup qualifier

Honours