The record-breaking Socceroos captain appears to have disappeared off the face of the earth and gone into hiding since being left out of Australia's 2014 World Cup squad.

Neill has never uttered a single word publicly about his demotion nor has his officially retired from football despite being without a club and playing his last competitive match six months ago.

Could you imagine Michael Clarke being dropped and never heard of again or Michael Hooper copping the boot from the Wallabies and fading from view?

Sportal's investigation into Neill's whereabouts have turned up zilch apart from a rumoured sighting in Darlington, England.

There were sketchy reports of the 36-year-old about to sign with an undisclosed club but they have so far come to nought.

100 days out from the @afcasiancup, Lucas Neill is set to announce he's found a new club | http://t.co/viZMiGGTcr # pic.twitter.com/hwMifAqhx3 — FOX SPORTS Football (@FOXFOOTBALL) October 1, 2014

Hearing that Lucas Neill is training the house down and close to signing with a new club, probably UK based. — Scott McIntyre (@mcintinhos) October 7, 2014

Just last weekend Neill was apparently spotted in a Chinese restaurant in Blackburn by a chicken-loving, Happy Mondays/Rovers fan.

Tasted the best chicken I think I'll ever taste yesterday, thanks to @yuandyou... and met @LucasNeill, then saw the Happy Mondays! Good day? — Probot The Mighty (@ProbotTheMighty) October 11, 2014

There was further excitement when Neill's former club Millwall posted a tweet mentioning the ex-Australian defender.

Until we read further.

Next stop Countdown! .. @jonnniem58 @alangreen1970 unscrambled our LUCAS NEILL Conundrum. Nice one! #MILLWALL — Lions Of The Den (@LionsOfTheDen) October 14, 2014

It's a conundrum alright!

Neill's own Twitter account has sat dormant since April 18 and the last story posted on his website is dated November 12, 2013 and somewhat ironically and hopefully titled 'World Cup no place for experiments'.

The site also carries a story on Neill's appointment as an Asian Cup ambassador, but the former Roos captain is yet to carry out one official duty despite the tournament kicking off in less than three months.

He also failed to front at a charity match in Sydney last month that pitted the Lucas Neill XI against the Paul Wade XI.

Some claim Neill remains dirty over his exit from the national team and the pasting he copped from fans and the media

Either that or he's saving his thoughts for a tell-all book.

Of course, Neill wouldn't be the first Socceroos skipper to turn recluse.

Australia's 1974 World Cup captain Peter Wilson has been in hiding for more than three decades, refusing all interview requests.

Maybe Lucas is holed up with Pete?