Edin Džeko has announced his retirement from international football, bringing a close to a record-breaking career with the Bosnia-Herzegovina national team spanning nearly two decades. According to reports from Transfermarkt, the 40-year-old FC Schalke 04 striker will officially step down following the upcoming UEFA Nations League B fixture against Sweden on October 2.
The veteran forward released a personal statement across his social media channels on Thursday detailing his decision to end his international career. Džeko departs the national setup as Bosnia-Herzegovina’s all-time record appearance maker and leading goalscorer, having earned 151 caps and netted 73 goals since making his senior debut in June 2007.
“Sometimes I have asked myself when this moment would come,” Džeko wrote in his statement, as cited by Transfermarkt. “But I could never have imagined how emotional I would be while writing these lines. Nothing in my career was ever comparable to the pride I felt every single time I wore this jersey.”
The Final Fixtures and Closing Chapter in Zenica
Before his international career officially concludes on home soil, Džeko is scheduled to feature in two final away fixtures for Bosnia-Herzegovina. The team travels to face Poland on September 25 and Romania on September 28 before returning home to host Sweden in Zenica on October 2.
Reflecting on his longevity at the highest level of international competition, Džeko noted that reaching the pitch for his national side at age 40 required total commitment. “If I made it to the national team until the age of 40, it is because I truly gave everything I had,” he said, according to Transfermarkt. “Every time. Everything.”
Milestones and Historic Achievements for Bosnia
Džeko’s international footprint remains unmatched in modern Bosnian football history. He sits comfortably atop the country’s all-time appearance list, well ahead of Miralem Pjanić, who earned 115 caps. In the scoring charts, Džeko holds a commanding advantage with 73 goals—45 clear of Vedad Ibišević, who has 28 goals.
His international journey began in June 2007 with a goal in a 3–2 victory against Turkey. Among his numerous achievements, Džeko highlighted leading his country to its first-ever major tournament qualification—the 2014 FIFA World Cup—as the defining moment of his career. He also pointed to securing qualification earlier this year for the upcoming tournament in North America as an unforgettable milestone that will remain in his heart.
At club level, Džeko signed a contract extension with FC Schalke 04 in early August, committing to the German club for another year as he transitions his full focus toward his domestic career following his international farewell.
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