Prominent football star dies of COVID-19 at 45

Former Iranian football captain and the world's leading international goal scorer Ali Daie in a message posted on Instagram expressed "shock and disbelief" over his former teammate's death. While there has been a drop in new infections and deaths in recent weeks, the situation continues to be grim in Iran, the worst-hit country in the Middle East. The disease has claimed the lives of many prominent figures in Iran since it broke out in February last year, from sports to arts and politics.