Manchester United have welcomed some of football’s greatest international stars to Old Trafford, but Australian players have been a rarity throughout the club’s history.

Mark Bosnich remains the most prominent example, having represented United during two spells, initially in 1990 before returning in 1999 to replace Peter Schmeichel following the club’s historic Treble.

Another Australian, Ray Baartz, spent time at United during the 1960s under Sir Matt Busby, although he returned home without making a competitive first-team appearance.

Representing your country remains one of football’s greatest honours, and United have enjoyed plenty of international success through their players.

Lisandro Martinez was part of Argentina’s World Cup-winning squad in 2022, helping Lionel Messi finally secure football’s biggest prize.

Four years later, however, the United defender endured heartbreak as Argentina suffered a 1-0 defeat against Spain in the 2026 World Cup final.

Martinez was forced off injured in the 44th minute after receiving a yellow card for bringing down Mikel Oyarzabal.

Nicolas Otamendi replaced him before Ferran Torres eventually scored Spain’s winner in extra time.

Despite the disappointment, Argentine media praised Martinez’s tournament performances, with El Destape awarding him an impressive 8/10 overall.

Now, another Manchester United player has received international recognition, setting up an intriguing encounter against Argentina.

Manchester United midfielder receives major international call-up

Football Australia have officially named Manchester United midfielder Jariyah Shah in their 21-man squad for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Qatar.

The 17-year-old will represent Australia under head coach Carl Veart, with their opening Group C fixture coming against Argentina on 19 November.

Australia will subsequently face Denmark on 22 November before concluding their group-stage campaign against Mozambique on 25 November.

As confirmed on Football Australia’s official announcement, Shah is one of four players selected from European clubs, alongside representatives from Bournemouth, Brighton and Red Bull Salzburg.

The selection rewards his continued progress at Old Trafford.

Having joined from Doncaster Rovers at Under-13 level, Shah made his Under-18 debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers in February 2025.

His development accelerated further in March when he earned his Under-21 debut against Birmingham City, starting the 1-1 draw before being substituted in the 75th minute.

Shah’s versatility has been particularly valuable, with the youngster comfortable operating in midfield or defence.

He was also selected for Australia’s September matches against Panama and Morocco, which served as final preparations for the tournament.

Australia return to the competition after seven years, having reached the semi-finals of the 2026 AFC Under-17 Asian Cup.

For Shah, facing Argentina on the world stage represents another significant milestone in his development and an opportunity to enhance his growing reputation at Manchester United.