Cristian Volpato, an Australia international footballer who featured in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, has been embroiled in a police incident after testing positive for cocaine during two speeding stops in Sydney. The 22-year-old Sassuolo midfielder was pulled over twice on the same night, with the second stop revealing the presence of the illegal substance in his system.
Speeding Stops on Anzac Bridge
New South Wales police first intercepted Volpato at 11:05 pm on Thursday, July 23, 2026, while he was driving his BMW Coupe on the Anzac Bridge. Officers recorded him traveling at approximately 94 km/h in a clearly marked 60 km/h zone. A breathalyser test administered at that time returned a negative result, and Volpato was permitted to continue his journey.
Less than two hours later, police stopped Volpato again in the same 60 km/h speed limit area. This time, his speed was measured at 109 km/h — nearly double the legal limit. An oral fluid test conducted during this second stop came back positive for cocaine. A secondary sample was collected and sent for laboratory analysis, as reported by BBC Sport.
License Suspension and No Public Response
Following the positive test, New South Wales police issued Volpato an infringement notice for speeding and suspended his international driving license for six months. At the time of reporting, a representative for the player had not provided any public comment on the incident.
From Roma to the World Cup
Volpato was born in Camperdown, Australia, and began his football career with Western Sydney before moving to Europe as a junior. He developed through Roma's academy system and eventually broke into the club's first team. In 2023, Sassuolo secured his services. Although Volpato initially represented Italy at youth level, he switched his international allegiance to Australia ahead of the 2026 World Cup squad announcement.
At the tournament, Volpato made three appearances for the Socceroos. He was an unused substitute in Australia's 2-0 win over Turkey in the opening group game. He came off the bench in a 2-0 defeat to the United States and started in the 0-0 draw with Paraguay. Volpato also featured in the round-of-32 knockout tie against Egypt, which Australia lost on penalties; however, he did not play into extra time.
Cape Verde Captain Under Investigation
In a separate development, Cape Verde captain Ryan Mendes is under investigation for alleged sexual assault during the national team's preparation for the FIFA World Cup. The investigation comes as the team prepares to face Argentina, casting a shadow over the squad's morale and performance.
