When he isn't dancing down the Socceroos' left wing, Jordy Bos likes to sit down for a game of chess.
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It's an apt hobby for one of the most crucial and versatile pieces in coach Graham Arnold's arsenal at this Asian Cup.
One of Australian football's next big things, Bos is in the midst of a helter-skelter rise to the top with comparisons to Gareth Bale and his every move being followed.
Rising Socceroos star Jordy Bos is coping with all the rage around him. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)
It's no wonder the 21-year-old likes to get away from football, turning his focus from the pitch to the black-and-white chess board.
"It just keeps the brain active a little bit," Bos told AAP ahead of Australia's opening clash with India at Doha's Ahmed bin Ali Stadium on Saturday.
"With football, obviously there's a mental component but not so much really thinking and pushing yourself.
"So chess makes it stay active. I'm not studying at the moment so I just like to push it a little bit.
"It's good fun when some of the other boys play it as well, so you have a bit of a competition within the group."
In many ways, the fiercely competitive Bos is still just like any other 21-year-old.
Bos prides himself on his Fortnite exploits, while he reckons he's a pretty handy table-tennis player, especially among the Socceroos.
"I would say that I am ranked No.1," he says with a grin.
"Maybe some boys won't agree, but I think I'm one of the best."
Thriving in competition has marked Bos's football journey so far.
At Melbourne City, Bos dislodged then-skipper Scott Jamieson from the left-back position.
Now, he's fighting to leapfrog Aziz Behich at the Socceroos.
"It's definitely challenging, coming in as a young player, competing against some of the senior boys and somebody that's been in the system for so long," Bos said.
"It's definitely hard and it just makes me want to push even harder and see what I have to do to get in front of that because it's not only your ability on the ball, but also coaching and your leadership skills and stuff like that.
"So there's a lot that goes into it. It's definitely challenging, but it's all part of it."
Arnold has even thrown Bos into the fray as a winger, on the same side as Behich, such are his attacking talents.
It's a challenge he's taking head-on.
"Obviously, the way I play as left-back I'm already getting up there but it just (adds) some diversity in how I play and the different ways to play," Bos said.
"So it's really fun and I am enjoying it."
Bos's versatility, athleticism and skill has earned him some lofty comparisons - most notably to retired former Wales and Real Madrid star Bale, who made his own transition from left-back to attacker.
The easy-going Melburnian, who jokes he could one day even see himself playing midfield, just takes it all in his stride.
"Obviously I like hearing that," he said.
"He's such a big player and to be compared to him or expected to do something similar is really cool.
"Obviously that brings extra pressure on me and stuff like that but I don't really delve too deep in it - I just focus on myself.
"I just keep going with my daily thing. I don't like looking into that stuff and I've got obviously people around me that bring me back to earth a little bit as well. So that helps."
It was the — Subway Socceroos (@Socceroos) #Socceroos starting debut that had EVERYONE talking 🔥🗣Jordy Bos looks back on his impressive showing against Argentina. pic.twitter.com/MsM313qR7JJune 23, 2023
Bos earned City a handy transfer fee when he moved to KVC Westerlo and after appendix surgery early on he has started to thrive in the Belgian Pro League.
But, with Arnold backing him to play with "freedom", Bos is acutely aware a big Asian Cup could open the door for an even grander club stage.
"Every big tournament as such is really important and it can open so many more doors," he said.
"Obviously I've already made the move to Europe but there's still ways up and something like this is an extra jolt in my career."
Above all, Bos has eyes on collecting silverware beyond the Socceroos' internal chess and table-tennis jostlings with Asian Cup glory firmly in his sights.
"The quality and the boys that we have here it's definitely possible. And I think we have a really good chance of winning," he said.
"Obviously this is gonna be a long journey, the next five weeks. We just have to keep pushing and I think we have a really good chance of taking it home."
Australian Associated Press