Newcastle Jets’ Alex Badolato has made an incredible start to the Isuzu UTE A-League season. aleagues.com.au looks at the numbers behind the 2025 AFC Young Footballer of the Year.
Alex Badolato. He is the name on everyone’s lips.
A hat-trick hero. The Golden Boot leader. World Cup bolter?
Newcastle Jets’ 20-year-old sensation has well and truly taken the Isuzu UTE A-League by storm this season on the back of his scintillating three-goal haul in Round 2.
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Badolato became the sixth-youngest hat-trick scorer in the competition’s history. However, when only considering midfielders aged 20 years or under at the time of the game since the league’s inception 21 years ago, he is just the third to achieve the feat after Adrian Segecic and Riley McGree.
The 2025 AFC Young Footballer of the Year has four goals to his name from the opening two weekends after helping the Jets take down last season’s runners-up Melbourne Victory. He has managed this from an expected goals (xG) of just 1, meaning he’s outperforming his xG significantly.
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Even more impressive, however, is the fact he ranks first this season for possession won in the defensive third (eight). Amid his red-hot form in the attacking third, it is a stat that has slipped under the radar.
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“At the start of pre-season, (head coach Mark Milligan) Millsy and the coaching staff put a lot of trust in me, a lot of faith to back my ability anywhere out there,” Badolato told Paramount+ following Round 2.
“I’ve always been that sort of technical player who likes to play in tight spaces but Millsy has given me the confidence and freedom to link up with to Max Burgess, stay close with Kosta… it is working well.”
After MVP performance in the CommBank Young Socceroos’ triumphant U20 AFC Asian Cup triumph, Badolato spent the second half of 2024-25 on loan at Victory from Western Sydney Wanderers before linking up with Mark Milligan for more game time in Newcastle.
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The Australian youth international – now turning his attention to Saturday night’s clash against Sydney FC – is clearly flourishing under the guidance of the A-Leagues and Socceroos great.
Of his four goals this term, three have been Goal-of-the-Season contenders after helping the Jets win their first piece of silverware in 17 years via the 2025 Australia Cup.
Badolato is headlining the next generation. He is also a walking highlight reel. His three goals from outside of the box are the third-most among U20 midfielders (at time of game) in league history, only behind Sarpreet Singh and Terry Antonis.
Jets captain Kosta Grozos said: “He’s a star. Training he turns it on, games he turns it on.”
With Socceroos boss Tony Popovic in the house on Friday night, Network 10’s Daniel McBreen said: “This young man is all class, full of confidence, full of quality.
“Everybody sit back and watch his trajectory – that man in particular (Popovic), must be taking some notes in that little black book we see him have. What a performance, Alex Badolato. What a talent.”
As Milligan’s youthful Jets continue to impress, so does Badolato.
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In the Isuzu UTE A-League 2025-26 campaign, he is second for passes ending in the final third (45), successful passes ending in the final third (35) and successful passes in the opposition half (64) – only adrift of Sydney FC young gun Paul Okon Jr.
He also ranks third for duels won (18) and dribbles completed (4). It highlights Badolato’s range of skillsets.
“I’m extremely happy for Alex Badolato,” Milligan told reporters last week.
“I’ve made no secret of how hard he has worked to get the accolades he has got away from us in the last 12 months.
“A lesser person would’ve probably struggled with what he’s been through but he is very, very determined.”
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