'In my prime': Socceroos veteran eyes 2026 WC, opens up on frank ...

Socceroos veteran Craig Goodwin says he is motivated to play on until the 2026 World Cup after a virtuosic performance against Lebanon on Tuesday night.

Goodwin set up two goals then added two of his own in a memorable 5-0 win, drawing widespread praise from his teammates and coach Graham Arnold.

The win books the Socceroos’ place in the next phase of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.

And after years of injury niggles – including surgery on a hernia in July last year – he says he believes he’s “in his prime” and has “too much to give” to walk away from the Socceroos before the next World Cup.

Goodwin was forced to miss the first match against Lebanon, a 2-0 win in Sydney on Thursday, after contracting a virus on his flight back from Saudi Arabia where he plays his club football.

He said after the match: “For myself, really happy to be able to come in after missing last week. Whenever these windows come up, I want to be involved in every single game and play as much as I can.

“So to miss that one, watching at home on TV, it was obviously a little bit hard to take. But I’m really happy I could make up for it tonight.”

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He more than made up for it, beginning in the second minute with a perfectly-placed cross for former Adelaide United teammate Kusini Yengi to score his maiden Socceroos goal.

Lebanon was wholly unable to deal with Goodwin’s crossing and set-piece delivery all night, and the veteran could well have added a couple more assists had teammates Harry Souttar and Ajdin Hrustic converted gilt-edged chances in the first half.

With a host of Socceroos players in their early 30s, there could be significant squad turnover by the time the 2026 tournament rolls around.

But Goodwin revealed a conversation with Arnold after January’s Asian Cup only added to his motivation to push on for the Australian side on the road to ’26, despite persistent injuries in recent years.

Asked whether the next World Cup is motivating him, Goodwin said: “Yeah absolutely.

“Arnie and I did speak at the Asian Cup and we discussed what I was wanting to do.

“In particular, the last two to three years I’ve really struggled in terms of having consistent niggles and consistent injuries. That’s really because I’ve played with pain in the season then had to deal with it in the off-season and not had much time off.

“I was hoping at the beginning of this season to be able to get a good pre-season under my belt and sort that out and get a good foundation.

“Unfortunately I had the deal to Saudi (Arabia) and after having the hernia surgery I was playing again with one month. So I haven’t been able to – over the last two or three years – put myself in the best physical condition throughout the season.”

But Goodwin is working tirelessly to make sure his body is capable of playing for at least two more years.

He added: “I’m taking a lot of action away from the field to try to give myself the best possible chance to be here longer.

“Because I feel performance wise and ability wise and physically, at times when I am feeling good, I feel I’m in my prime.

“And I feel I have too much to give to be able to walk away just now.

“So I have had the conversation but that is definitely driving me. Whether I get there or not, we will see in a few years’ time. But right now the motivation is to get the body right, make sure I’m in a good physical condition so I can put in more performances just like I did tonight.”

Coach Graham Arnold also opened up on what was said in the conversation with his star man, saying: “The conversation we had after the Asian Cup was pretty much: ‘you only have a short career in life, don’t throw it away now. Keep going, just do one year at a time.’

“That’s pretty much what we had the discussion about … I think he’s nearly in his prime.”

Arnold also waxed lyrical about Goodwin’s development into a key leader in the Socceroos’ attack, and the dressing room.

“It’s just the growth of him, if I can say that, in terms of leadership and mentality,” he said. “I think when I knew Craig Goodwin younger, he didn’t believe in himself like he does these days.

“Obviously he’s a top quality player but he’s a fantastic player and a great leader, in and around the dressing room and on the pitch.

“His delivery, his set pieces are fantastic and obviously with his finishing, it’s just got better and better as he gets older.”