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Best Australian footballers in the world

Football may not be Australia’s primary sport but the Socceroos are currently producing some of the best players in the country’s relatively young history. These players have ridden the crest of the wave that occurred from the Socceroos’ Asian Cup victory in 2015 to help land spots in some of the top football competitions in the planet. So who are the best Australian footballers in the world at the moment?

 

10 best Australian footballers in the world

 

  1. Chris Ikonomidis (Perth Glory)

First in our list of the ten best Australian footballers in the world is Chris Ikonomidid of Perth Glory. After a high-profile move to Lazio failed to generate much game time at the start of his career, Ikonomidis’ move back to Australia has allowed him to flourish in the A-League. The winger has been one of the most potent threats in the league notching up 12 goals in 32 appearances for Perth Glory since moving there in 2018. With good pace and excellent dead-ball skills, Ikonomidis has finally been able to prove his worth to both club and country on a regular basis.

 

  1. Jamie Maclaren (Melbourne City)

Like many other Australian hopefuls, Maclaren had hoped that a move to Europe would prove to be a successful venture for his career. However, brief appearances in the Bundesliga and SPL didn’t do the striker any justice and Maclaren returned to the A-League with a point to prove. He has done exactly that, scoring 23 goals in just 29 games for Melbourne City, proving himself to be one of the deadliest finishers in the domestic game today. Being just 26, Maclaren looks set to be terrorizing teams Down Under for several seasons to come.

 

  1. Mathew Leckie (Hertha Berlin)

Mathew Leckie has been one of the most underrated Australian players for the past decade. Despite not making the headlines, Leckie’s speed and creativity has helped him consistently start week in and week out in the German Bundesliga for Hertha Berlin over the past three years. He has also been one of the stars that has been integral to the Socceroos’ success having featured in the Asian Cup triumph as well as featuring in two World Cups for his country.

 

  1. Milos Degenek (Crvenza Zvezda/Red Star Belgrade)

Australia’s rich history with migration has allowed them to inherit footballers from all different backgrounds and cultures. Originally born in Croatia, Milos Degenek opted to play for his adopted home and the wing back has excelled ever since. The wing back has a lot of pace which aids him to support the teams in attack but also has a good reading of the game allowing him to track back without a drop of a hat. Degenek’s skills have allowed him to become a highly rated defender in Europe and is likely to be on the radar of bigger European clubs in the very near future.

 

  1. Massimo Luongo (Sheffield Wednesday)

A few years ago, Luongo was seen as a highly touted prospect in world football. The winner of the 2015 Asian Cup Best Player Award and a surprise Ballon D’Or shortlisting helped the central midfielder move into the English Championship and earn a place in a much brighter spotlight. Luongo’s game may not be the flashiest but he has evolved into a reliable box-to-box midfielder who can unlock defences for attackers and provide cover for the back line.

 

  1. Adam Taggart (Suwon Bluewings)

There are Australian players littered throughout Asia’s top leagues but none is enjoying more success than Adam Taggart in the K-League. Having moved to the Blue Wings following some good performances in Australia, the tall forward enjoyed his best season to date when he topped the league scoring charts with 20 goals in 33 appearances. This form earned him a spot in the K-League Best XI for 2019 and helped him cement his spot in the national side.

 

  1. Jackson Irvine (Hull City)

Needing to find a replacement for Mile Jedinak was never going to be easy but Jackson Irvine has proven to be a worthy successor. Irvine’s game has evolved tremendously over the past couple of seasons and he has also improved on his attacking abilities, having been a much more defensive player at the start of his career. Irvine has proven to be a reliable presence in the English Championship for Hull over the past couple of season as well as the Australian national side, with four goals in the last ten games for his country.

 

  1. Tom Rogic (Celtic)

Rogic was the standout youth of his generation and his potential has been realized during his time with Celtic in Scotland. Rogic has one of the best left feet in Scottish football and has become known for spectacular strikes from outside the area. This, and his ability from set-pieces, has made him a deadly part of a Celtic squad that has dominated Scottish football, scoring 37 goals for The Bhoys. He has starred on the international scene for Australia, netting 9 goals in 47 appearances as well as earning a place in the 2019 Asian All-Star XI at the end of the tournament.

 

  1. Mathew Ryan (Brighton & Hove Albion)

Ryan has emerged as the next top Australian goalkeeper and has firmly established himself as one of the best Australian footballers around today. Stints with Club Brugge & Valencia helped him hone his craft and become one of the first names on Brighton’s team sheet. Ryan is a force to be reckoned with when collecting balls and his long reach helps makes saves and keep multiple clean sheets every season. Ryan’s exploits have earned him no less than 2 Australian PFA Footballer of the Year medals, with the most recent coming in 2018-19.

 

  1. Aaron Mooy (Brighton & Hove Albion)

Aaron Mooy has quietly evolved to become the star of Australian football, having proven to be one of the most consistent performers in the Premier league on a weekly basis. His eye for a pass has outfoxed some of the best in the business and ensured that he stayed in England’s top flight moving from relegated Huddersfield to Brighton at the start of the current season. Mooy has also developed an eye for goal and has scored 13 Premier League goals over the past three seasons. This success has been recognised domestically having been named Australian Footballer of the Year 3 times in the last 4 years and has made him the gold standard for football in Australia for the next couple of years. A deserved top spot in our list of the best Australian footballers in the world today.

 


 

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