The former Manchester City hitman could become one of football's rare over-40 World Cup warriors if Bosnia qualifies for 2026.
Edin Dzeko is rolling back the years and eyeing a place in football's most exclusive veterans club. The 38-year-old Bosnian striker, who terrorized Premier League defenses during his Manchester City days, is targeting a World Cup appearance at age 40-plus if his national team secures qualification for the 2026 tournament.
Only a handful of players have achieved this remarkable feat in World Cup history. Alfredo Talavera became the most recent member when he played for Mexico at Qatar 2022 aged 40, joining legends like Colombia's Faryd Mondragon and Italy's Dino Zoff in this ultra-rare category. Dzeko's quest mirrors the longevity we're seeing across global football, where experience increasingly trumps youth.
The veteran's ambitions come at a time when African football is experiencing its own generational blend. While young stars like Morocco's Azzeddine Ounahi and Senegal's Ismaila Sarr are emerging as the continent's new faces, experienced campaigners like Algeria's Riyad Mahrez and Egypt's Mohamed Salah continue proving that age brings wisdom on football's biggest stages.
For Dzeko, reaching the 2026 World Cup would cap an extraordinary career spanning from Wolfsburg to Manchester City to Inter Milan. His journey exemplifies how modern sports science and dedication can extend elite careers well into players' fourth decades, setting an example for footballers worldwide who refuse to let time dictate their dreams.
