Written by Megan Taylor, sports reporter covering international sports since 2020
Cristian Volpato is at the centre of police allegations after the Socceroos midfielder was allegedly caught driving more than 50km/h over the speed limit in Sydney and returned a positive roadside test for cocaine. The incident reportedly occurred shortly after 1am on Friday on the Anzac Bridge, with further analysis now pending.
According to reports, the 22 year old was allegedly driving his BMW at 109km/h in a 60km/h zone. Police also allege Cristian Volpato initially told officers he had not taken drugs before returning a positive roadside result, with a secondary oral fluid sample collected for testing.
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Police Investigation Continues
The Sydney Morning Herald reported Cristian Volpato had been stopped about two hours earlier on the same bridge and fined after allegedly exceeding the speed limit by more than 20km/h.
His international driver's licence has been suspended for six months. He has not been charged with a criminal offence.
Rising Socceroos Midfielder
Cristian Volpato became one of Australia's breakout performers during the 2026 FIFA World Cup after switching his international allegiance from Italy to the Socceroos shortly before the tournament.
Born in Sydney, Cristian Volpato moved to Italy as a teenager after leaving the Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers academies. He later earned a trial with AS Roma and made his Serie A debut at 18 years of age.
The latest developments come after a period in which Cristian Volpato attracted attention for his performances on the international stage rather than events away from football.
For more information on the national team, visit the official Football Australia website.