Deni Jurić is one of those late-blooming strikers whose career has quietly been building momentum across Europe, and who is now firmly on the radar of the Australia national team as they look ahead to upcoming major tournaments, including the next World Cup cycle.

Born in Kogarah in 1997, Deni Jurić grew up in Australia but developed much of his football identity through a mix of Australian foundations and Croatian football culture. That background is fairly visible in how he plays: he’s a direct centre-forward, physically strong, comfortable in contact situations, and most dangerous when operating inside the penalty area. He’s not a flashy forward, but he tends to be efficient—getting into the right spaces and finishing chances when they come.

Steady Growth in Europe

His club journey has taken him through Croatia and Slovenia before landing in Poland with Wisła Płock, where he has continued to grow as a reliable attacking option. The Polish league has suited his style in many ways, especially because it rewards discipline, physical duels, and structured attacking play. At Wisła Płock, he has shown himself as a player who can lead the line, hold up the ball under pressure, and provide a consistent goal threat rather than occasional highlights.

On Australia’s Radar

Internationally, Deni Jurić has been part of the wider Australia national team conversation for some time. In recent years he has been involved in Socceroos training camps and broader squad discussions, and as of 2026 he is considered one of the players on the edge of selection as Australia continues to expand its attacking options ahead of World Cup qualification planning. While he is not yet established as a long-term starter, his form in Europe has kept him in contention and regularly monitored by the national team staff.

Football runs in the family as well. His brother, Patrick Jurić, is also a professional footballer who has been involved in Australia’s youth national team setups. While Patrick Jurić has not yet reached the same level of senior international involvement, both brothers have followed similar pathways through European club football, and both have been part of the broader discussion around Australia’s next generation of attacking talent.

At this stage of his career, Deni Jurić is in a very important phase. His performances at Wisła Płock are essentially shaping whether he can convert his fringe national team status into a more permanent role. With Australia actively evaluating attacking depth for future tournaments, he remains very much in the picture—especially if he continues delivering goals and consistent performances in Poland.

Watch beIN SPORTS Xtra live for free on YouTube