Maty Ryan can easily pinpoint the big change in his life that preceded the best form of his career.
Australia's skipper and goalkeeper will kick off his record-equalling fourth World Cup campaign against Turkey in Vancouver on Saturday (Sunday AEST).
This time, the 34-year-old will have partner Chloe and son Preston, born last September, along for the ride.
The goalkeeper remembers former Socceroo James Holland telling him about teammates who took their game to another level after becoming fathers.
"Sure enough, I'm coming off probably my best season," Ryan told AAP.
Assistant coach and former skipper Mile Jedinak noticed how fatherhood has changed the goalkeeper's perspective.
Ryan is still famously professional, meticulous and routine driven - but some things go out the window when you have a baby.
"It's been obviously life changing, becoming a father. It's also complemented myself as a footballer," Ryan said.
"You realise that there is something more important in the world than just the demands of a football game or a footballer's schedule.
"Is my son waking me up at this time when I wanted to be asleep going to really impact whether I can save that ball or not?
"If you have to eat a little bit later or do your running or stretch half an hour later because the little man's crying - it's just adjustable. "
Ryan had to dig into his resilience when coach Tony Popovic benched him for Joe Gauci in his first camp in 2024.
"Of course I was disappointed," Ryan said.
"But at the same time, through learning from my experiences, I tried to use that disappointment to motivate me to work harder and work smarter and do all that I could to prove to him that I was the best man for the job.
"Of course, at that time I wasn't playing regularly, but neither was Joe.
"But at the end of the day, the manager makes the decision what he feels is best, and who am I to go and make a fuss about not being selected and chuck the toys out the pram?
"It also would have made me a hypocrite because any other time I've been in here, I have been playing and other goalkeepers have always supported me and learned to help me try and be ready.
"We need everyone to be united in the cause."
Ryan got to work and went to a new level, helping Levante stay in La Liga while reclaiming the Socceroos' No.1 spot from Gauci and Paul Izzo.
"I always believed that I can play at the highest level still - and it was really nice to go back to Spain and show that again," he said.
Ryan is in discussions with Levante about extending his contract.
But first, he hopes more history awaits.
"It's exciting," Ryan said.
"That opportunity that we have in front of us is something that we dream of as kids."
