Cristian Volpato

Cristian Volpato chose Australia over Italy despite being Roma-born and academy-trained, a decision that immediately elevated the Socceroos' creative ceiling. Now at Sassuolo following his Roma development, the 22-year-old operates as a technically refined attacking midfielder or second striker — comfortable in tight spaces, capable of the incisive pass as well as the shot. He brings a distinctly European technical quality to Australia's forward line that sets him apart from the more physically direct options in the squad, and at his age he could be central to the Socceroos' ambitions well beyond 2026.