Edin Dzeko retires from international football after 151 caps, 73 goals
Synopsis
Edin Dzeko is calling time on a 20-year international career that produced 151 caps and 73 goals — both all-time Bosnia and Herzegovina records. The 40-year-old, who guided his nation to their first-ever World Cup in 2014, will play his farewell match against Sweden on 2 October. He continues at Schalke in the Bundesliga.
Key Takeaways
Edin Dzeko , 40 , has announced his retirement from Bosnia and Herzegovina international football.
His final match will be on 2 October against Sweden in the UEFA Nations League .
Dzeko holds Bosnia's all-time records with 151 caps and 73 international goals .
He helped Bosnia qualify for their first-ever FIFA World Cup in 2014 and again in 2026 , where they reached the last 32 .
Dzeko will continue his club career with Schalke in the Bundesliga .
Edin Dzeko, Bosnia and Herzegovina's all-time record scorer and former Manchester City striker, has announced his retirement from international football. The 40-year-old will play his final match in national colours on 2 October, when Bosnia face Sweden in the UEFA Nations League. The announcement ends a 20-year international career that redefined Bosnian football.
The Announcement
Dzeko broke the news through an emotional statement posted on Instagram, describing his international career as 'the most precious gift football has given me.' He reflected on two decades of service, 151 appearances, and the weight of representing his nation on the world stage.
'Sometimes I found myself thinking about when this moment would come... But I had never imagined how emotional I would feel while writing these words. On October 2, I will play my next and final match for our national team against Sweden,' Dzeko wrote.
'Nothing in my career can be compared to the pride I felt every time I wore that jersey. Nothing. This was my childhood dream. I carried that dream with me in each of the 151 matches in which I had the honor of representing my country on a football field,' he added.
A Record-Breaking Legacy
Dzeko holds both the caps record and the goals record for Bosnia and Herzegovina, having scored 73 international goals across 151 appearances — figures no other Bosnian player has come close to matching. His debut came nearly 20 years ago against Turkey, a match he recalled with particular fondness.
'Nearly 20 years have passed since that match I played against Turkey. Many things have changed since that day, and I have changed too, but my love for this jersey has never changed,' he said.
World Cup Milestones
Among Dzeko's most defining contributions was guiding Bosnia to their first-ever FIFA World Cup in 2014 — a historic breakthrough for the nation. He also featured in the 2026 World Cup, where Bosnia advanced to the last 32. These two tournaments stand as the twin peaks of a generation-defining international run.
This is the second successive World Cup cycle in which Bosnia have qualified, a consistency that would have been unthinkable before Dzeko's era began.
Club Career Continues
Despite stepping away from international duty, Dzeko will continue playing club football. He currently represents Schalke in the Bundesliga, meaning his retirement applies solely to the national team. His final international bow on 2 October against Sweden will serve as a formal farewell to a career that spanned the full arc of modern Bosnian football.
'I feel that the time has come to step aside now. If I was able to stay in the national team until the age of 40, it is because I truly gave everything I had. Every time. My all,' Dzeko said.
With Bosnia's next generation now expected to step up, Dzeko's retirement marks both the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter for Bosnian international football.
Point of View
73-goal ledger is staggering, but the more lasting legacy is structural: Dzeko normalised World Cup qualification for a country that had never reached the tournament before him. The real question now is whether Bosnia's federation has built enough depth to sustain that standard, or whether his exit exposes how thin the pipeline behind him truly is.
NationPress
3 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Edin Dzeko's last international match?
Edin Dzeko will play his final international match on 2 October against Sweden in the UEFA Nations League. He confirmed the date in his retirement statement posted on Instagram.
What are Edin Dzeko's international records for Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Dzeko holds both of Bosnia and Herzegovina's all-time international records — 151 caps and 73 goals. No other Bosnian player has come close to either figure.
Which World Cups did Edin Dzeko help Bosnia qualify for?
Dzeko was instrumental in Bosnia reaching the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the nation's first-ever appearance at the tournament. He also featured in the 2026 World Cup, where Bosnia advanced to the last 32.
Will Edin Dzeko continue playing club football after retiring internationally?
Yes. Dzeko will continue to represent Schalke in the Bundesliga. His retirement applies only to international duty with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Why did Edin Dzeko decide to retire from international football?
Dzeko cited his age and the belief that the time was right to step aside. In his own words, 'I feel that the time has come to step aside now. If I was able to stay in the national team until the age of 40, it is because I truly gave everything I had.'
