Luongo has been bracketed alongside global superstars like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in an initial 59-strong list of nominations - an acknowledgment of his feats in becoming the 2015 AFC Asian Cup's most valuable player.

But the 23 year-old is more embarrassed than exultant at being included on the honour roll for the world footballer of the year award.

In camp with Australia ahead of Friday’s (AEST) 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Jordan, a disbelieving Luongo admitted: “I don’t even know it was for real, I don’t know what’s going on with that.

"I've been trying to avoid it. QPR (Luongo’s club side) wanted to interview me about it and I said I didn't want to talk about it.

"I don't know what to say about it … it's a bit random."

So random, in fact, that Luongo didn’t even know it was official until being informed of the list's authenticity by journalists in Amman on his arrival into Jordan.

"I thought it was somebody trying to be funny or something … I haven't heard anything other than people telling me on Twitter and other social media."

When pressed on the significance of being selected by a panel which includes Socceroos great Harry Kewell, Luongo added: "It's obviously a big honour, not many people get in it.

"I can say I've been on the Ballon d’Or list now … but I don’t want to ponder on it for too long. I just want keep my head down a bit.

"People must be saying 'who is this Massimo Luongo?' It’s obviously for the achievements at the Asian Cup (when he was with Swindon Town in League One last season).

"So, it's nice to be too recognised for that. In England the Asian Cup wasn't a big thing. But to be mentioned along the likes of Messi and Ronaldo. That has come as a big shock."

Luongo, who was left out of QPR's 4-3 home win over Bolton at the weekend, revealed that being nominated had made him a prime target of dressing room banter at Loftus Road.

"The boys have been joking about it with me … they take the piss over things and I do it myself as well, because it is a bit funny, maybe because I have no chance of winning it. But I am on it now … I can't do anything about it."

After a bright start to the season with his new club, Luongo found himself out of the side for the first time against Bolton, perhaps paying the price for being part of the XI thumped 4-0 by Fulham the previous week.

He has been playing out of position as a No.10 and is hankering for a return to a slightly deeper role, where he believes he is most effective.

"The (No.10 position) doesn’t really suit me that well. My main mission was to feed Charlie Austin (who is now sidelined).

"I always regard myself as one of the midfielders. It's a long season and I just have to work myself back in the team. There will opportunities for me to get back in.

"We have great players in our team but have been conceding loads of goals, I think the most in the league, but we are still at the top end of the table. The Championship is a massive roller coaster."

Luongo sees the clash against 99th ranked Jordan as his biggest test for his country since the Asian Cup, having missed out on the spellbinding 2-2 draw against World champion Germany in March.

"It's going to be difficult, for sure, and for me it's a big one. It will be hard and everybody will have to be up for it.

"When we play these sorts of teams, when they are home they have loads of confidence and have some good players who can hurt us.

"They sit off and because we chuck so many players forward, the counter attacks is where they get us a bit.

"Being the Asian champions they want to topple us.

"It's like Chelsea in the Premier League where they won the title and now everybody wants to stick it to them. Now everybody wants to prove themselves against us."