Edin Dzeko has announced his retirement from international football with Bosnia and Herzegovina. The legendary striker will play his final match for the national team against Sweden in the Nations League on October 2.
Dzeko, currently playing for Schalke, made the decision at the age of 40. He made his senior debut for Bosnia and Herzegovina against Turkey in 2007. Since then, he has earned 151 caps and scored 73 goals, making him the nation's all-time leader in both categories. "Nothing in my career has ever compared to the pride I have felt every single time I wore that shirt," Dzeko said.
His role in qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup was decisive. It marked Bosnia and Herzegovina's first major tournament as an independent nation. Dzeko stated that remains one of the happiest moments of his life as a footballer. He specifically mentioned the emotions from the goal against Wales and the match against Italy in March 2014.
At the 2026 World Cup, Dzeko played a key part in the team's run to the last 32. His experience and leadership on the pitch were invaluable for the younger squad. Currently, Bosnia and Herzegovina compete in League B of the Nations League, and their upcoming fixtures include several important matches before the year ends.
An emotional farewell is scheduled for October 2, when Bosnia and Herzegovina visit Sweden. Dzeko called on fans to attend and support the team. "I just hope you will be there that night against Sweden, so we can share one more emotion," the legendary forward said. After that match, he will return to club duties with Schalke.
This fixture symbolizes the end of an era for Bosnian football. Dzeko leaves behind a generation of players who earned that first World Cup berth and raised standards. The current squad list for Bosnia and Herzegovina will now have to adapt without its historic goal scorer.
The question of who will succeed Dzeko as the main striker becomes urgent. With his departure, the goal-scoring burden shifts to other players. Coach Savo Milošević will have a difficult task finding an adequate replacement or adjusting the team's tactics. Dzeko's tally of 73 international goals will be incredibly hard to surpass.
The statistics he leaves behind speak for themselves. Beyond the record caps and goals, he is the only Bosnia and Herzegovina player to score a hat-trick in European Championship qualifying. His contribution is measured not only in numbers, but in his influence on younger teammates and the motivation he provided the whole team.
The Bosnia and Herzegovina national team's next official competition is on November 12, when they face Finland in the Nations League. That match will be the first without Edin Dzeko in the squad for over a decade and a half.
