Bosnia and Herzegovina captain Edin Dzeko never imagined he would still be competing at the highest level at 40 years old.
Yet the skipper is preparing to lead his country onto the World Cup stage once again, proving that age remains just a number for one of football’s most enduring forwards.
Fresh from helping Schalke secure the Bundesliga title, Dzeko arrives at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as a veteran leader whose longevity continues to impress teammates and opponents alike.
The former Manchester City and Roma striker admitted that a decade ago, he never envisioned extending his career into his forties.
“I did not think I would be playing at 40,” he said.
However, Dzeko believes his commitment to fitness, recovery and preparation has been the key to maintaining elite-level performance.
“But I am listening to my body and doing a lot of work before and after training because I am obviously not the youngest anymore and I need to care about my legs, my body and that’s what I’m doing.”
Dzeko explained how his daily routine has evolved significantly compared to his younger years, with much greater emphasis placed on injury prevention and recovery.
“Maybe when you are young, you don’t think a lot about coming earlier to training and staying 30 to 45 minutes before training in the gym doing the prevention work and then also staying after training, like 30 to 45, one hour, doing some other prevention work.
“Maybe as a young player, when you’re 20, you say I don’t have time for this, I want to go out for coffee or something with friends or lunch. When you get older, you realise that your body needs it if you want to compete at the best level and stay so long in football.”
As Bosnia prepare for their World Cup campaign, Dzeko’s experience will be invaluable both on and off the pitch.
The striker remains the face of Bosnian football and will captain the national team in what could be the final major tournament of his remarkable career.
While many players retire long before reaching 40, Dzeko continues to demonstrate that dedication, discipline and professionalism can extend a footballer’s career far beyond expectations.
For Bosnia, that could prove to be one of their greatest assets as they chase success on the world’s biggest stage.
Toosin is a dedicated sports writer with a strong background in crafting engaging and insightful content. With experience at Goal, he has developed a sharp editorial sense and a refined storytelling approach that brings depth and perspective to sports journalism. His passion for the game goes beyond the headlines, as he captures both the excitement of the sport and the compelling human narratives behind each event. Toosin’s work resonates with a broad and diverse audience, making global sports stories accessible, relatable, and impactful.
