Australia striker Mitch Duke ends international career

Australian striker Mitch Duke has officially ended his international soccer career, stepping down after more than ten years representing the Socceroos. The 35-year-old forward earned 50 caps for his country, becoming a significant figure in Australian football.

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After a lot of reflection, the time has come for me to officially announce my retirement from international football.

Duke's career highlight includes scoring a vital headed goal against Tunisia in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. This goal marked Australia's first World Cup victory in 12 years, a moment he described as the absolute pinnacle of his professional journey.

He also played a crucial role in Australia's qualification efforts for the 2026 World Cup, notably scoring the winning goal against Saudi Arabia in a previous qualifying match. However, he was notably absent from the final squad selection for the upcoming tournament.

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As a kid growing up in Australia, I dreamed of wearing the green and gold just once. To have gone on to represent my country 50 times is a dream come true 50 times over, and a privilege I never took for granted.

Reflecting on his time with the national team, Duke expressed profound gratitude. "As a kid growing up in Australia, I dreamed of wearing the green and gold just once," he stated. "To have gone on to represent my country 50 times is a dream come true 50 times over, and a privilege I never took for granted."

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While I will cherish every memory, scoring for Australia at the 2022 FIFA World Cup remains the absolute highlight of my career. It has been the greatest honour of my life to pull on the Socceroos jersey and represent our nation.