The centre-forwards vying to fire the Socceroos to the 2026 World Cup

The Australian team performed well during the recent international break, taking a solid step towards World Cup qualification. However, the past week's matches also highlighted a long-standing problem: who is the most suitable player to lead the line for the Australian national team? This is a question that coach and fans alike have been pondering.

After injuries to Adam Taggart and Kusini Yengi, Australia was forced to field substitute Mitch Duke up front in their win against China on Thursday. The 34-year-old veteran has had a distinguished international career, but with only 45 minutes of club football this season, his international career may be nearing its end. Coupled with Yengi and Taggart's less-than-optimistic injury records, Australia coach Tony Popovic undoubtedly needs to seriously consider his options up front. The coach will need to find a solution to ensure the team has a reliable goal scorer.

Given Popovic's most recent 26-man squad, he seems to believe that Taggart, Yengi, or Brandon Borrello, who started on Tuesday, are the best options for Australia's forward line. Popovic's consistent use of the 3-4-2-1 formation means that there is usually only one true center-forward position in his starting lineup. However, considering that the players on either side of that position sometimes play as traditional wingers and sometimes more like dual attacking midfielders, the role and characteristics of the Australian forward may vary from game to game. With the 2026 World Cup fast approaching, here are some potential solutions for Australia's forward line. This tactical flexibility is crucial for adapting to different opponents.

Brandon Borrello, after starting as a center-forward for 80 minutes in Tuesday's 2-0 win against China, told Paramount Plus: "The No. 9 role is sometimes a very selfless role. I just try to hold the ball up, make sure I can get involved in the link-up play, receive the ball back, and get into the box. I don't mind doing the dirty work." And he did give it his all. Borrello's recent stint as a center-forward was hard-working and effective, but it was entirely unplanned. Only injuries to Taggart and Yengi opened the door for Borrello, who usually plays as a winger for his club, Western Sydney Wanderers. His 13 goals in 19 games this season prove he is in good form, but his international future may still lie on the wing. His versatility, however, makes him a valuable asset.

If fully fit, Portsmouth striker Kusini Yengi is Australia's best option up front. However, that is a big "if." After ending a two-and-a-half-month injury layoff at the end of February, Yengi was injured again in a training session before Australia traveled to China, withdrawing him from Popovic's latest squad. With 6 goals in 11 international appearances to date, a fit and vibrant Yengi is clearly Popovic's preferred choice. The 26-year-old is strong, intelligent, and creative, but his injury history suggests he is not a player to build a team around. Finding a reliable backup is therefore essential.

A-League Men's current top scorer, Noah Botic, could be an option. The 23-year-old Western United player has already scored 11 goals this season, including a recent one celebrated with a "call me" gesture after missing out on Popovic's latest squad. Given his recent excellent form and the lack of Australian forward options, Botic seems destined for his first national team call-up. But for some reason, it hasn't happened. However, with the World Cup potentially only a point away, Popovic may be more comfortable using Botic to further stabilize the team. In an interview with News Corp, Botic said he hopes his debut isn't too far away. "Obviously, I'm disappointed I didn't make this squad, but I respect Tony Popovic's decision and the players he's picked," he said. "He's picked them for a reason, but that doesn't mean I'm never going to be in the squad in the future. It's just for this particular squad. There's still a chance I can be in the squad in June, so if I just keep focusing on myself and my club football, then the rest will take care of itself." His patience and determination are commendable.

Perth Glory's Taggart is a consistent goalscorer at club level, but his Australia career has been stop-start. He made his debut as a teenager back in 2012 but has only made 20 appearances for the national team since. Popovic chose him to lead the line against Indonesia, but an injury in the first half prevented the 31-year-old from proving his goalscoring prowess to Australia. Taggart is a known quantity, a natural finisher, and if he can stay fit, he will be a viable forward option at next year's World Cup. His experience could be invaluable.

Former Macarthur Bulls player Anthony Carter is enjoying a late-career surge. His 15 goals and 5 assists in 28 games for Portuguese second-division side FC Alverca make Carter one of Australia's most in-form center-forwards. At 30 years old, he is not a long-term option, but if he continues to score in Portugal, is he worth a look? Of course, the Portuguese second division is not the Champions League, but at the 2022 World Cup, Mitch Duke, then playing in the Japanese second division, led the line for Australia. His current form warrants consideration.

Undoubtedly, Australia's attacking depth lies in the players on either side of the forward line. Nishan Velupillay has had a very successful start to his Australia career, Martin Boyle is almost certain to be the starter on the right, and Craig Goodwin, despite not starting against Indonesia or China, is arguably Australia's best attacking player. Add to that Borrello, who filled in as a center-forward on Tuesday night, the talented Daniel Arzani, and the overlooked Nestory Irankunda, and Australia has a wealth of talent on the wings and waiting in the wings. All of these players, perhaps with the exception of Goodwin, could play as a forward for Australia. The most exciting of these is of course Irankunda. The Bayern Munich loanee has had a promising start at Swiss club Grasshopper, and you can imagine him re-entering the frame for the crucial matches against Japan and Saudi Arabia in June. Closer to home, Archie Goodwin shouldn't be far from the discussion either. He has already scored 9 goals for Adelaide United this season, and if he can maintain his strong performances, he could replace Botic as Australia's most likely next forward sensation. The competition for places is fierce.

In football, a year is a long time. There is still over a year to go until the 2026 World Cup. In football terms, that equates to a full club season, at least two more rounds of qualifiers, and a series of international friendlies. That's plenty of time for someone else to force their way into Popovic's plans. Can Garang Kuol rediscover his form after a difficult few years in Europe? Can Adam Taggart continue to score goals in the A-League Men? Or will the then-35-year-old Duke find himself – through an amazing return to form, or as the last survivor after a terrible No. 9 epidemic sweeps through Australia's forward line – find himself leading the line again at a World Cup? You wouldn't rule it out. The unpredictable nature of football makes anything possible.