Edin Dzeko underlined his enduring quality by playing a decisive role as Bosnia-Herzegovina overcame Wales in their World Cup qualifying play-off semi-final. Now 40, the experienced forward struck a crucial late equaliser before his team triumphed via penalties, securing a final clash with Italy next Tuesday.
Edin Dzeko underlined his enduring quality by playing a decisive role as Bosnia-Herzegovina overcame Wales in their World Cup qualifying play-off semi-final. Now 40, the experienced forward struck a crucial late equaliser before his team triumphed via penalties, securing a final clash with Italy next Tuesday.
The match also featured a heated moment involving Craig Bellamy, with whom Dzeko once shared a dressing room at Manchester City. Their confrontation highlighted that the striker’s competitive edge remains intact despite his age.
Victory leaves Bosnia-Herzegovina just one step from qualification and Dzeko on the verge of joining a very small group of players aged 40 or above to appear at a World Cup. If successful, he would achieve something rarely seen among outfield players in the tournament’s history.
That exclusivity is underlined by the fact that only one outfield player has previously managed the feat — Roger Milla, who played and scored at the 1994 World Cup aged 42.
Should Bosnia-Herzegovina defeat Italy, Dzeko might not be alone among older outfield participants at the upcoming competition. Luka Modric is expected to captain Croatia at what would be his sixth World Cup appearance.
Similarly, Cristiano Ronaldo, now 41, is also on course to feature in his sixth edition of the tournament. Their presence would mark a notable moment, potentially bringing multiple 40-plus outfield players into the same World Cup.
For Dzeko, qualification would end a long absence from the global stage, with his last appearance coming 12 years ago. While outfield players of his age are uncommon at World Cups, goalkeepers have achieved the milestone more frequently.
Among them are names such as Essam El-Hadary, who played at 45, and Dino Zoff, who featured at 40. Others include Faryd Mondragon, Pat Jennings, and Peter Shilton, all of whom represented their countries beyond the age of 40.
Since making his international debut in 2007, Dzeko has remained a cornerstone of Bosnia-Herzegovina’s attack. He has scored 73 goals in 147 appearances and has found the net every year for two decades, underlining remarkable consistency.
Even in recent seasons, he has maintained strong club-level output, reaching double figures for goals as recently as last year. His commitment to fitness and preparation has been central to extending his career at the highest levels.
A move to Fiorentina last summer did not go as planned, with the striker failing to score in 11 Serie A matches and eventually falling out of favour. However, a January transfer to Schalke in Germany’s second tier revitalised him, yielding six goals in eight games.
Reflecting on his future, Dzeko has indicated he will assess his condition after the summer. For now, though, he continues to feel capable and productive — and if Bosnia-Herzegovina secures qualification, any thoughts of slowing down may have to wait.
