Edin Dzeko will play a 152nd and final match for Bosnia-Herzegovina next month, concluding a 19-year international career according to an announcement shared on Instagram by the 40-year-old striker.
The national team captain confirmed he will step down from international duty following a UEFA Nations League qualifier against Sweden, scheduled to take place in the Bosnian city of Zenica on Oct. 2, as reported by The Associated Press. Dzeko holds 73 goals for Bosnia-Herzegovina, carrying the squad through its historic emergence on the global stage.
Final Appearance Against Sweden in Zenica
The upcoming fixture in Zenica marks the conclusion of nearly two decades representing the senior national team. According to The Associated Press, Dzeko addressed his supporters directly in his social media post, stating that the time has come to step aside after giving everything he had to the shirt since his childhood.
Dzeko expressed his desire to share one final emotional evening with the supporters in Zenica. He stated that he wants his last night representing his country to be spent with the fans wearing the colors he has loved throughout his life.
Legacy With Bosnia-Herzegovina and World Cup Milestones
Dzeko’s international career runs parallel to the formation of Bosnia-Herzegovina’s independent soccer history, which began after the break-up of the former Yugoslavia during the regional wars of his childhood. According to The Associated Press, he played and scored at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, marking Bosnia’s first appearance at the tournament as an independent nation. He also represented the squad at this year’s World Cup hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Over 151 appearances so far, the 40-year-old forward has frequently carried the team’s offensive output, accumulating 73 international goals.
Club Career Context and Bundesliga Return
At the club level, Dzeko continues to play professionally after helping German club Schalke clinch promotion to the Bundesliga last season, according to The Associated Press. Following that successful campaign, he signed a new one-year contract extension with the club to continue his career in Germany ahead of his final international appearance in October.
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