Now he hopes a World Cup campaign where Australia have already caused a boilover and their players are attracting attention from big clubs can help shed that tag.
Parma defender Circati has been linked to Atletico Madrid, while 18-year-old Lucas Herrington has attracted attention from Barcelona.
The 22-year-old hopes it means the world is starting to recognise Australia's talent, ahead of a clash with co-hosts the United States in Seattle on Friday (5am Saturday AEST) headlined by pundits writing the Socceroos off.
"I hope we're starting to gain a little bit more respect," Circati said on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST).
"I don't want to be the underdogs for the rest of my life. I want to be a team which everyone faces like 'oh, we've got to play Australia.'
"But that will come with time and I'm sure many boys will go to great clubs and then once that happens, it will become reality."
Unflappable Circati is unfazed by transfer speculation - saying he had been through it all before tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in 2024 - and takes confidence from it.
"Personally at the end of the the day, it does give you motivation. It gives you also a better feeling within yourself. You know that what you're doing is somewhat correct," Circati said.
"But I think we've got to really leave that out and really focus on what's at hand and then all that. And we'll worry about that after the World Cup.
"And I'll pass that message on to the two younger boys (Herrington and Nestory Irankunda) who maybe they haven't witnessed something like that, haven't lived it. But I think the most important thing is to focus on today and tomorrow.
"And after the World Cup, then you can sit down with whoever you sit down and decide."
Circati has no interest in buying into back-and-forth with the Americans.
When asked if he had a response to US midfielder Sebastian Berhalter's comments regarding a newfound physicality and attitude under Mauricio Pochettino - "we're American. We don't take shit" - the Socceroo was blunt.
"No. I've got no response to that," Circati said.
"We don't take it either. We're just out there to play a game of football, to win and to do our best. It doesn't matter what he said."
But Circati expects the game to be a similarly physical affair to last October's 2-1 defeat in Colorado.
"We're a very big team, very physical team," Circati said.
"Even players, which maybe you look at and they're not the biggest players, I think they're very, very physical. People go into challenges giving 100 per cent.
"If anything, I wouldn't see it any less physical than the last game because now there's big stakes on the line."
The US sit top of Group D after their 4-1 win over Paraguay, ahead of Australia, who beat Turkey 2-0.
The Americans offer a dynamic, "explosive" attack while Circati is also prepared for what US and AC Milan star Christian Pulisic can offer, provided he overcomes a left calf issue.
"Christian's sort of a mate of mine as well. I know him very well," Circati said.
"He's a great player. His season has been a little bit stop and start. But, keeping that aside, I think he's phenomenal.
"Just look at the clubs he's played at, what he's won, the last three or four seasons he's had at AC Milan - they speak for themselves.
"He's a great opponent, I think he's probably their best player as well ... It'll be good to face him."
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