Australia's 2018 World Cup campaign may not have gone the way many Socceroos fans hoped it would, but it did give precocious young forward Daniel Arzani the chance to showcase his talent on football's grandest stage.
Despite being afforded just 60 minutes of action in Russia by manager Bert van Marwijk, who will soon be replaced by Graham Arnold, Arzani's fearless attitude, fleetness of foot and ability to trick his way past opposition players quickly sent Australian tongues wagging. Many were desperate to see the 19-year-old start his country's crucial showdown with Peru on Tuesday.
But Van Marwijk, who guided the Netherlands to the final of the 2010 World Cup, did not heed the calls to start the talented teenager, instead choosing to bring him on with legendary veteran Tim Cahill for the last half hour against the vibrant Peruvians, who ran out comfortable 2-0 winners.
The briefness of his cameos infuriated his compatriots back home but they also offered a glimpse of what they can expect from him in the future, something the Melbourne City star needs to resolve in the coming weeks.
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Manchester City, the flagship club of the City Football Group - of which Melbourne are a part - and Juventus are both said to be interested in pilfering Arzani from the A-League, but a move away from the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium isn't imminent as it stands.
“I do not know what happens [next],” Arzani said, per City Watch. “Now I will go straight to London and meet my agent and spend a few days there trying to clear everything up.
“[There is] nothing concrete yet. You know as much as I [do], probably.”
After starting the season on the substitutes' bench under Warren Joyce, Arzani gradually became one of Melbourne's most important players and was eventually named the A-League's Young Player of the Year.
The versatile attacker also earned himself a place in the division's Team of the Season, despite starting just 15 times. A revelation in Australia's top-flight, he managed to utilise his creative flair at the World Cup, too.
Arzani created three clear-cut chances and completed two successful dribbles during his cameos against France and Denmark, with the latter lucky to come away from their clash against the Aussies with a point.
His productive performances inevitably garnered the attention of some esteemed clubs, but his compatriot Mark Schwarzer, one of a handful of Australians to have enjoyed a long and successful career in the Premier League, has advised the young starlet to remain in control of his burgeoning career.
"I wouldn't go to Man City or Juve or a big club like that because he won't play," Schwarzer told Wild World of Sports.
"Of course an outstanding talent like Arzani is going to want a dream move but let's be realistic, he's played one full season in the A-League and he's only just starting out with the national team.
"Man City for instance have got some of the best players in the world fighting for his position. Sure, he might go there and get loaned out but then you're putting your destiny in the club's hands. Right now he's got the opportunity to shape his own destiny."
Talk of a move to one of Europe's elite clubs may be premature for the teen dubbed 'the next Harry Kewell' at this stage, but if Arzani continues developing at a rate of knots he could swap Melbourne for Manchester before long.