Could Kuala Lumpur City's Giancarlo Gallifuoco be the next M-League player to feature in the World Cup?
The Australian centre-back has featured for the Socceroos' youth teams but has yet to turn out for the senior team and with next month's World Cup fast approaching, he could be on the flight to Qatar.
The 28-year-old defender joined the City Boys in 2021 and became their defensive pillar, helping the team win the Malaysia Cup.
The 1.87m tall defender continued his fine form for KL in his second season, playing a key role in helping the team reach the AFC Cup final.
Making their debut in the Asian-level competition, KL City created history by advancing to the final, sweeping aside Vietnam's Viettel, Indonesia's PSM Makassar and ATK Mohun Bagan of India.
KL's AFC Cup campaign saw them concede five goals from six matches en route to the final to face Omani club Al Seeb on Oct 22.
Gallifuoco pulled another superb performance for KL over PFC Sogdiana in the Inter-Zone final, producing 10 superb clearances, five recoveries, three interceptions and eight-headed clearances to hold the hosts to a goalless draw in Jizzakh on Wednesday.
He capped a fine performance by converting KL's final kick in the penalty shootout to record a 5-3 win to march into the final.
KL City coach Bojan Hodak admitted that his prized centre-back has been a consistent performer in the last two seasons but it's up to Australia's national team coach Graham Arnold to decide whether Gallifuoco has a place in his World Cup team.
"Gallifuoco has been a key player for us in the last two seasons, he has done well to combine with the other defenders.
"He's certainly an asset and I feel he has the quality to play for the Australian national team. Australia have been a regular in the World Cup and they have top players who have experience playing at the highest level.
"But Gallifuoco will find it tough (to get in) because Australia have so many good players in his position, and everyone wants to play in the World Cup. It's tough but I won't discount his chance," said Hodak.
For the record, 11 players from the M-League have featured in the World Cup over the years. They are —
Karel Stromsik (Czechoslovakia):
The goalkeeper featured for Selangor in the M-League from 1989–1991. He played in the 1982 World Cup.
Emile Mbouh (Cameroon)
The midfielder played in the M-League for Perlis, Kuala Lumpur and Sabah. He turned out for the Indomitable Lions in the 1990 World Cup and 1994 World Cup.
Stephen Keshi (Nigeria):
The towering centre-back played for Perlis in 1998 four years after representing Nigeria at the 1994 World Cup.
Perica Ognjenovic (Yugoslavia):
The versatile attacker who donned Selangor colours in 2006, played in the 1998 World Cup.
Joel Epalle (Cameroon): The midfielder turned out for Sarawak in 2012-2013 after featuring in the 2002
World Cup.
El-Hadji Diouf (Senegal): After helping Senegal reach the 2002 World Cup quarter-finals, he joined Sabah in 2015.
Bosko Balaban (Croatia): The striker, who represented Selangor in 2012, was part of the Croatia team at the 2002 World Cup.
Pablo Aimar (Argentina): The midfield maestro, who appeared briefly for Johor Darul Ta'zim in 2014, turned out for Argentina in the World Cup in 2002 and 2006.
Kim Do-Heon (South Korea): The midfielder, who played for Negri Sembilan in 2018, featured for South Korea in the 2006 World Cup.
Jerry Palacios (Honduras): The striker, who joined Armed Forces in 2016, played for Honduras in the 2010 World Cup.
Andrew Nabbout (Australia): The forward player featured for Negri Sembilan in 2016 and played for Australia in the 2018 World Cup.