The Sydney-born 22 year-old went from a little-known member of Ange Postecoglou's Socceroos squad to a household name in the space of a month after his stellar displays in a competition that grabbed the attention of the nation.
His stunning long-range strike in the 2-1 final win over Korea Republic in January rubber-stamped his player of the tournament award and saw his name linked with a high-profile move away from English League One side Swindon Town.
His exit from the Robins was inevitable after the team failed to win promotion to the English Championship in May's play-off final at Wembley.
However, his decision to join a Queens Park Rangers side newly-relegated from the Premier League did raise a few eyebrows after rumours of interest from clubs in Italy and Germany, as well as Aston Villa and Everton.
Luongo conceded his form for Swindon tailed off drastically after the Asian Cup and that may have scuppered a chance of a move to a Premiership club.
"It was hard after the Asian Cup, I didn't have the best end to the season for Swindon, it was a combination of fatigue, injury and I guess coming back down to earth a bit," Luongo told AAP.
"But I've learned a hell of a lot from it. I think people now expect me to be at a certain level whenever I play.
"That brings pressure but having come from the other side where people questioned me starting for the Socceroos in the Asia Cup, that was pressure of a different type so I think it will help me."
Luongo married his English fiance this month and is well settled in south London having just forked out on a house in a leafy part of the UK capital after his $5million move to QPR.
"It's been the biggest year of my life," he said.
"The Asian Cup was an amazing experience. I think I got better as the tournament progressed. I played my best game in the final ... on home soil in Sydney ... it was a once in a lifetime moment."
That success led to comparisons with Tim Cahill and Luongo said having to leave Australia straight after the final helped him keep a sense of perspective.
"Because I am not there I don't see the headlines and what's being written about me so much," he said.
"After the first game against Kuwait in Melbourne when I scored and was man of the match, the hype was crazy - like nothing I'd ever experienced.
"Straight after the final I came back to Swindon. We had an away game. It was wet, freezing cold, we played badly and lost. That's when you realise the past is the past and you move on very quickly in football.
"The Asian Cup was the best thing in my career, but I need to make sure I am a regular for QPR ... that will help me keep my place in the Socceroos side."
