Australian footballer Cristian Volpato was stopped by police twice on Sydney's Anzac Bridge in a single night — the second time allegedly returning a positive roadside test for cocaine while travelling at 109km/h in a 60km/h zone.

New South Wales police said the 22-year-old midfielder was first pulled over in a BMW Coupe at 11:05pm on a Thursday night, having been caught driving between 86 and 94km/h in a 60km/h area. His roadside breath test for alcohol came back negative, and he was sent on his way.

Roughly two hours later, police stopped him again on the same stretch of road. This time he was clocked at 109km/h — nearly double the limit — and allegedly tested positive for cocaine in a roadside drug test. Police issued Volpato with an infringement notice for excess speed and suspended his international driver's licence for six months, barring him from driving in New South Wales. A secondary oral fluid sample was taken for further analysis, and police said their inquiries are continuing, BBC Sport reported.

The allegations carry weight beyond a routine traffic stop. Volpato is one of Australian football's most talked-about young players — a midfielder who only switched allegiance to Australia in May, having previously represented Italy at youth level. The change of heart came just before the Socceroos announced their World Cup squad, and Volpato went on to feature in three of Australia's four matches at the tournament. Australia reached the round of 32 before being knocked out by Egypt on penalties.

At club level, Volpato has been at Serie A side Sassuolo since 2023. He made 24 league appearances last season as the Italian club finished 11th in the top flight.

BBC Sport has approached both Football Australia and Sassuolo for comment. Neither has yet issued a public response. The story has been picked up across major Australian and international outlets, including The Guardian, ABC News, ESPN, the Sydney Morning Herald and the Daily Telegraph, all reporting on July 24.

The word "allegedly" is doing specific work here. NSW police have confirmed the speeding offences, the licence suspension, and that a positive drug test was recorded at the roadside — but a secondary sample has been sent for further testing, and the results of that analysis will determine whether the cocaine finding is formally confirmed. Volpato has not been charged with a criminal offence. Roadside drug tests in Australia can yield preliminary positives that are later verified or overturned by laboratory testing.

For now, the facts are these: a young player who only months ago was living out a World Cup dream on the global stage is now at the centre of a police investigation at home. The Socceroos and his Italian club are both facing questions. The answers — from police, from Football Australia, and from Sassuolo — will take time.