Police believe the attack occurred shortly after the driver accepted the job from a home in Warrandyte, north-east of Melbourne, about 2.30pm on May 17.
The victim had been driving four males from the location when they started smoking and swearing, forcing the rideshare driver to cancel the trip on Main Road in Lower Plenty.
Two males set-upon the victim shortly after the trip was cancelled, punching and kicking him repeatedly while he was in the middle of the road, detectives say.
CCTV shows the two young males appearing confrontational as they gestured toward traffic on the busy road before fleeing the scene.
Passers-by rushed to intervene after witnessing the attack and came to the aid of the 39-year-old rideshare driver, who suffered a broken nose, facial swelling and bruising before being taken to hospital.
One male is described as Caucasian, aged between 18 and 20, with short brown hair, and wearing a grey hooded jumper and dark tracksuit pants.
The second male is described as being of Middle Eastern appearance, aged between 18 and 20, with short black hair and a goatee beard, and wearing a grey jumper and black tracksuit pants.
11°C