Legendary Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko to retire from international football

What the report says

Bosnia and Herzegovina striker Edin Dzeko has said he will retire from international football after next month’s Nations League match against Sweden, ending a national-team career that has lasted nearly two decades. The announcement was reported by Al Jazeera, citing Dzeko’s message on social media and a Reuters report. The 40-year-old, who currently plays for Schalke 04 and has also represented Manchester City, AS Roma and Inter Milan, said the October 2 fixture would be his final appearance for Bosnia.

Dzeko made his senior debut in 2007 and went on to score 73 goals in 151 matches, making him Bosnia’s most-capped player and its all-time leading scorer. In his farewell note, he described representing the country as a childhood dream and said he had given everything to the national team. The publication quoted him as saying that his final appearance would close a chapter that began nearly 20 years ago.

His retirement marks the end of one of the most significant careers in Bosnia’s football history. Dzeko was a central figure in the country’s first qualification for a World Cup in 2014 and also played an important part in Bosnia’s run at the 2026 tournament, where the team reached the round of 32. More broadly, his departure leaves Bosnia without its leading scorer and one of its best-known sports figures as the team continues rebuilding for future competitions.