Rejected Twice, Cristian Volpato Now Shines for Socceroos
After two Australian soccer academies told Cristian Volpato he wasn't good enough, his family sold everything and moved to Italy for one trial. Now he's starring for Australia at the World Cup.
When Cristian Volpato's family boarded a plane to Italy in 2014, they were betting everything on a single soccer trial.
The young winger had just been rejected by both Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers academies. His mother sold her shop, his parents leased out their house, and they left Australia with no backup plan.
"I just remember the car ride home with my dad. I was crying," Volpato said. "He just says, 'We'll go to Italy now and we'll try it.'"
The gamble paid off. Volpato earned a spot at AS Roma's academy, where he trained under legendary striker Francesco Totti. He now plays in Italy's top league, Serie A, for Sassuolo.
But his path back to representing Australia wasn't simple. Volpato turned down a chance to play for the Socceroos at the 2022 World Cup, keeping his options open for Italy's national team. When he finally committed to Australia just days before the 2026 World Cup squad was announced, some fans questioned his timing.
"I'm human like everyone else," Volpato said about the criticism. "Sometimes there's going to be stuff said about you. I feel like, as a footballer, you've just got to be resilient."
The decision came suddenly after Volpato played against Australian teammate Alessandro Circati in a Serie A match. "Something clicked. My heart. It said, 'Just go. I think you belong there,'" he explained.
He faced another hurdle when he realized his passport had expired. Racing against the clock, Volpato flew to Australia to secure new documentation just in time to join the squad.
Why This Inspires
Volpato's story reminds us that rejection doesn't define our future. The same player deemed "not good enough" by two academies is now one of Australia's brightest attacking talents at the World Cup. His performances against the USA and Paraguay have silenced doubters and proven that second chances can come from unexpected places.
His family's sacrifice shows the power of belief when everyone else says no. They risked everything on potential they saw that others missed.
Sometimes the longest journey home starts with being told you don't belong.
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Based on reporting by ABC Australia
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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