When Edin Dzeko first pulled on a Bosnia and Herzegovina shirt, few could have predicted that nearly two decades later, he would still be leading his nation into battle at a World Cup. Now 40 years old, the striker who has scored 73 international goals — more than double the next highest scorer in his country’s history — is preparing for what may be his final global tournament.
A Journey from Midfield to World-Class Striker
Dzeko’s path to the top was anything but straightforward. As a teenager, he was a struggling midfielder at FK Zeljeznicar in Sarajevo. There were even those within the club who believed they had struck gold when they sold the lanky youngster to Czech side Teplice for a modest five-figure fee back in 2005. That decision would go down as one of the biggest misjudgements in Balkan football history.
From Teplice, Dzeko moved to Wolfsburg, where he burst onto the global scene with 66 goals in 111 Bundesliga appearances. Alongside Grafite, he formed one of the most devastating strike partnerships in German top-flight history, powering Wolfsburg to the 2008-09 Bundesliga title. His 2009-10 campaign, in which he scored 22 goals and registered 11 assists, marked him as one of Europe’s most complete forwards.
Premier League Glory and Serie A Success
Manchester City came calling in January 2011, and Dzeko’s 72 goals in 189 appearances included some of the most memorable moments in Premier League history. His equaliser against QPR on the final day of the 2011-12 season — the assist coming from Sergio Aguero’s famous pass — set the stage for one of football’s most iconic title-winning moments. Two Premier League titles later, Dzeko had cemented his status as a City legend.
His subsequent move to Roma saw him flourish once more, with 119 goals in 260 appearances making him the Giallorossi’s leading scorer in European competition. A Serie A top scorer award in 2016-17 confirmed that age had not diminished his instinct in front of goal.
The Secret to Longevity
Speaking about his enduring career, Dzeko emphasises the importance of meticulous preparation. “Maybe when you are young, you don’t think about coming earlier to training and staying 30 to 45 minutes before training in the gym doing prevention work,” he reflects. “When you get older, you realise that your body needs it if you want to compete at the best level.”
This dedication has paid off handsomely. After helping Schalke secure promotion back to the Bundesliga, Dzeko finds himself as the third oldest outfield player at the 2026 World Cup — behind only Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric, both teenage prodigies who were already household names when Dzeko was still finding his way as a midfielder in Sarajevo.
A World Cup Send-Off
Approximately 450 career goals after that modest transfer to Teplice, Dzeko’s legacy is secure. Bosnia may not be among the favourites in the United States, but their captain’s presence ensures they will not lack for experience, leadership, or goal threat. For a player who once had doubters within his own club, the final chapter of a remarkable career is being written on the grandest stage of all.
Source: Sky Sports
