“I have faced (racism) a lot,” Mabil told the BBC.

“Once, when I was 16, I came home and one of my neighbours attacked me. The first thing I did was shut the front door and hide my siblings. I was talking to these guys while the door was shut, I said ‘Go away.’ They kept saying ‘Go back to your own country.’

“Apart from that, you experience day-to-day things like when you’re walking along the road there are people in cars beeping you and saying things. That’s normal.”

From personal attacks to devastating misfortune, just hours before Mabil took to the field in Australia’s final Asian Cup match, his 19-year-old sister, Bol, was killed in a car crash in Adelaide’s north.

“This has taught me not to worry about the bulls**t in your life, the political stuff ... black, white, this, that,” he told The World Game after Bol’s death.

“That’s all just there for us to fight against each other. Things like that I don’t take seriously any more.”

Exhibiting uncompromising strength, Mabil has continued to star in Denmark after the latest in a series of seemingly unending obstacles, wrapping up his 21st appearance of the season in Midtjylland’s final regular-season fixture against Sonderjyske.

With five goals and 10 assists, he’s set to play a key role in what promises to be a clear standout among Australians at football’s pinnacle.

Which is a telling reminder of the (perhaps missing the point) argument following Tim Cahill's retirement. Who was going to fill the billboards, lure the media and demand the attention of loungerooms around Australia?

Perhaps now more than ever Australian football need a self-proclaimed “man for the people." An endless force of optimism in the face of overwhelming negativity.

"If I was an Australian fan – which I am, but I'm a player also – I'd be excited,” Mabil exclaims.

“I just can't wait for what's in store for Australian football.”