Edin Dzeko's career has been shaped by the Bosnian War. Born in 1986, he was six years old when conflict erupted in 1992, claiming around 80,000 lives. His family endured the four-year Sarajevo siege, with Serbian snipers targeting civilians. Dzeko's family home was destroyed; he moved in with his grandparents in a cramped 35-square-meter apartment with 15 relatives. His football pitch was shelled one day, killing several people, after his mother insisted he stay home.
On the pitch, Dzeko's résumé is extraordinary. He won two Premier League titles with Manchester City, and later starred at Inter Milan and Wolfsburg. With 73 goals in 148 international matches, he remains Bosnia's all-time leading figure in the sport.
Bosnia qualified for only their second World Cup after beating Italy on penalties. Dzeko, 40, will lead the squad into Group B alongside Canada, Switzerland and Qatar. His presence embodies the nation's post-war resilience and determination to compete on the world's largest stage.
For Dzeko, this World Cup represents a final chapter—one that could define not just his legacy, but Bosnia's new beginning after decades of struggle.
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