The Aussie shot stopper has overcome his own and others doubts to succeed at the highest level
He's just finished his first season in the English Premier League and is set for his second World Cup with the Socceroos, but Mat Ryan was almost convinced a lack of height meant he'd never make it to the pinnacle as a goalkeeper.
Ryan burst onto the A-League scene with Central Coast Mariners under Graham Arnold, spending three seasons with the club before earning a move to Belgium.
During his time on the Central Coast, Ryan was itching to test himself in Europe and earned a trial at Tottenham which almost crushed his hopes of making it to the top.