After arguably failing to reach full potential after his phenomenal 2015 Asian Cup performances, Massimo Luongo is now becoming one of the Championship's best midfielders.
Luongo joined Queens Park Rangers in 2015, after being named the Asian Cup's Most Valuable Player. The Socceroo built a reputation for being an agile yet hardy midfielder, who could operate from box-to-box if required.
His debut-season displays for Rangers meant the was even included on the longlist for the 2015 Ballon d'Or. Yet as QPR struggled with financial instability and player departures in the following years, Luongo failed to take his game to the next level that many Socceroos' fans were hoping for.
This season, however, Luongo leads the Championship in tackles with a success rate of almost 70% and has captained QPR on multiple occassions. James Meredith isn't far behind in sixth.
115 - Massimo Luongo has made 115 tackles this @SkyBetChamp season, 14 more than any other player. Slide. pic.twitter.com/AAOwNLIYyM
— OptaJason (@OptaJason) February 25, 2018
Fellow Socceroos midfielder Aaron Mooy also ranks seventh in the Premier League for tackles, leaving Australia with some capable defensive abilities leading into the World Cup.
At the other end of the pitch, last weekend Luongo scored in his 100th appearance for the club, meaning he has a goal and assist in his last two matches as Ian Holloway's side try to stave off relegation.
Check out Massimo Luongo's goal over the weekend, plus watch highlights from Mitch Langerak's J.League debut in our #Socceroos Central wrap > https://t.co/qeORiE46UK pic.twitter.com/E4CSkokbjB
— Green & Gold Army (@GGArmy) February 26, 2018
Luongo previously remarked that Bert van Marwijk taking over the Socceroos coaching position has every player looking over their shoulder. In this case, it seems to have sparked the 25-year-old back to his career best form.
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