Among the 23 players who participated in Bosnia's first World Cup in 2014, only two historical figures are still part of the national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup. One is Sead Kolasinac, the youngest member of that squad at 20 years old. The other is Dzeko, who was an irreplaceable pillar even before the tournament in Brazil began.

Twelve years later, Bosnia's all-time leading scorer maintains his sharpness and significant influence at 40, boasting an impressive record of 147 appearances and 73 goals. Since his national team debut in 2007, Dzeko has consistently been an indispensable player, maintaining a steady scoring rate every year for the past two decades.

"Age is not an issue," Dzeko once stated. Despite being labeled "over the hill", "out of energy", "old", or "rusty" many times, he always finds a way to bounce back. The clearest proof came with his powerful header in the 86th minute to equalize against Wales in the play-off semi-final on 27/3. Bosnia then sealed their victory in a penalty shootout, advancing to the final against Italy.

Dzeko heads in a 1-1 equalizer for Bosnia in their 2026 European World Cup play-off semi-final against Wales at Cardiff Stadium, Wales on 26/3/2026. *AP*

Dzeko celebrates after scoring a pivotal goal for his team. *AP*

Against Wales, the striker, born in 1986, also showed his burning passion during a clash with Craig Bellamy – the opposing coach and a former teammate from their Manchester City days.

Dzeko is just one win away from joining an exclusive "club" of players aged 40 or older who have participated in a World Cup. To date, tournament history records only one outfield player achieving this feat: Cameroon legend Roger Milla at the 1994 World Cup. Milla was 42 years and 35 days old when he played against Brazil that year. Four days later, he played again in the match against Russia and even scored a goal.

Should Bosnia overcome Italy, Dzeko will join the "40 club" with Milla and a few others. Forty-year-old midfielder Luka Modric is expected to captain Croatia in his sixth World Cup. Portugal's superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, currently 41, is also ready for his sixth appearance at football's biggest global event.

Italian football through Dzeko's "mirror"

Today's crucial match against Italy brings back many memories for Dzeko. All four of his children were born in Italy during his more than 10 years competing in Serie A for clubs like Roma, Inter, and Fiorentina this season.

Dzeko was a presence in Serie A before Francesco Totti retired, before Italy won Euro 2020, before Atalanta won the Europa League, and even before Bologna qualified for the Champions League. Thus, he serves as a reminder to Italian football itself about both its past and present.

Conversely, Italian football holds great respect for Dzeko, not only for the goals he has scored but also for his demeanor as a striker who understands his craft inside out. Dzeko was there in the summer of 2015 when Roma rolled out the red carpet for him from Manchester City, with a USD 5 million loan deal, 12.5 million for a permanent transfer, and 3.5 million in add-ons.

From 2015 to 2026, Serie A witnessed a continuous expansion of foreign players, rising from over 55% in the mid-last decade to 68.5% in registered squads and exceeding 63% in playing time. However, Dzeko was never an ordinary foreign player.

Roma fans once welcomed him like a "god". They created a social media craze with the slogan "Love is Dzeko". But in true Italian tradition, comparisons and metaphors also began to surround him, sometimes as a "swan", then a "tank", a "battering ram", or a more artistic and resilient version of Luca Toni or Miroslav Klose.

Dzeko played alongside Totti in the final years of the Italian legend's career at the Olimpico. *AS Roma*

Yet, as the first season concluded, the love almost vanished. Only eight goals in 31 matches. Harsh social media labeled him "Edin Cieco" (Blind Edin) with compilation videos of his clumsy misses. He paid no mind, then exploded with 29 goals in Serie A the very next season, surpassing Gonzalo Higuain, Mauro Icardi, and Dries Mertens – three prominent strikers at the time – to win the top scorer award.

In Rome, amidst the praise and mockery, that season of 39 goals across all competitions remains Dzeko's most brilliant. "Nowhere compares to Rome," he later told The Guardian. "The people there are crazy about football in the most positive sense. The pressure in Germany or England, though high, cannot compare to Rome. In Manchester, I could stroll freely, but in Rome, walking on the street is impossible."

Amidst the vibrant hustle and bustle of the Italian capital, Dzeko truly became an iconic number 9. He was also there on the historic day of 29/5/2017 when Totti, at 41, bid farewell to football. Standing on the Olimpico pitch, he quietly witnessed a chapter of Italian football closing due to the relentless march of time.

Years later, reflecting on that moment, Dzeko revealed to Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport: "Only now do I understand Francesco's feelings. Giving up what has been your life's purpose for over 20 years – from training sessions, team camps, teammates, to matches in the most beautiful football cathedrals in the world – is painful and heartbreaking. I want to face it with the right mindset; when I feel satisfied enough to stop, I will let go. But right now, I feel that day is still far away."

By then, Dzeko was over 30, and the ticking clock signaling the end of his career began to beat more urgently. But in those years, he remained a witness to immortal moments with Roma. One such moment was the classic 3-0 comeback victory against Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-final second leg, securing their spot in the semi-finals on away goals in 4/2018.

"At Roma, we 'won' the Champions League in our own way," Dzeko recounted. "Beating a formidable Barcelona 3-0, after losing 1-4 in the first leg, felt no different than winning the silver trophy."

Dzeko scores the opening goal in Roma's 3-0 win over Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-final second leg at the Olimpico, Rome, Italy in 4/2018. *Reuters*

Across both legs against Barcelona that year, Dzeko left a strong mark in every moment. From scoring to reduce the deficit to 1-3 in the first leg at Camp Nou, to netting the opener in the fifth minute of the second leg at the Olimpico, and then winning the pivotal penalty that Dzeko converted to double the lead. These moments etched one of the most shocking comebacks in modern Italian football history.

After six seasons with numerous records – including 119 goals in 260 matches, enough to rank among Roma's best strikers in history, behind only Totti and Roberto Pruzzo – Dzeko moved to Inter.

That was the summer of 2021, when Italy had just won the Euro. While Italian football seemed to be entering a renaissance, for Dzeko, it was a transition into a new phase of his career. The blue-and-black team introduced him with an evocative message: "Let the story between the Swan and the Biscione begin."

Dzeko was also present when Inter reached the Champions League final in Istanbul, where he started and faced another former club – Manchester City. But the outcome was immense regret, as he and Inter lost 0-1.

"When you reach the final, you are just one step away from your goal," Dzeko told The Guardian. "We believed, we believed fiercely. Inter had to face an 'invincible' Manchester City, a team theoretically unstoppable, but on the field, they couldn't dominate us. Standing on the pitch then, I clearly felt the goal was within reach. With just a few more favorable circumstances, we could have brought the cup home. But after all, there is still pride in having given everything."

Dzeko looks dejected as he is substituted during Inter's 0-1 loss to Manchester City in the 2023 Champions League final at Istanbul, Turkey. *Reuters*

Also in Italy, Dzeko scored his 400th professional career goal, in the Milan derby, affirming his ability to deliver in important matches. He understands the depth of derbies, from the fiery atmosphere in Rome to the glamour of Milan.

Even after leaving, Dzeko always heard a compelling call to return. "I know what I love about Italy: its cuisine and its captivating beauty," he said earlier this season. "Just look around; everything is magnificent. And the negatives? I'd have to think hard... Oh no, I have one. Sometimes people talk too much. Those who view my profession from the outside often think it's a pleasure cruise, but they don't know how much effort we put in before stepping onto the field."

After two years with Fenerbahce, in the summer of 2025, Dzeko returned to Italy, this time in Fiorentina's colors, with many questions. But he responded with a single reason: "I am here because I know what I want. Even if people say at 39 you should think about the future, I am afraid to think about it right now. When my children run twice as fast as me, that's when I'll start asking myself."

However, Fiorentina later became a low point, offering Dzeko only 250 minutes of play, and he failed to score any goals. Nevertheless, at 40, this central forward is rediscovering his passion for football with Schalke 04 after moving to the German club in 1/2026.

German football once propelled Dzeko's career. In the 2008-2009 season, he and Grafite formed a formidable duo for Felix Magath's Wolfsburg, winning the Bundesliga before he moved to Manchester City in 1/2011.

Dzeko in a Schalke jersey in 2026. *imago*

Now, that same land helps him regain form to continue challenging the erosion of time. With six goals and three assists in eight matches, Dzeko is making a significant contribution to helping the Veltins Arena team lead the Second Division on their journey back to the Bundesliga.

"I don't even think about what I'll do after I retire. I just want to immerse myself in football, just want to score goals, and win. For as long as possible. I will listen to my body this summer," Dzeko declared before the match against Italy. However, if he helps Bosnia qualify for the World Cup, perhaps Dzeko's "dialogue" with his body will have to be postponed for a while longer.