Edin Džeko: Bosnian Football Legend Prepares to Face Switzerland at 40

Edin Džeko, the 40-year-old captain of the Bosnian national football team, continues to embody resilience and hope for his war-torn homeland as he prepares to lead his side against Switzerland. With 148 international caps and a career spanning top European clubs including Manchester City, AS Roma, Inter Milan, and now Schalke 04—whom he helped promote to the Bundesliga—Džeko remains deeply connected to his roots.

Described by compatriots as a national idol, Džeko's every goal is celebrated by Bosnian refugees worldwide. "When he scores, all the Bosnian refugees in the world score with him. He is our model, he is our hope," says Asmir Selimovic, a survivor of the Bosnian War, in The Guardian. The striker's number 11 jersey is widely sold across Bosnian markets, a testament to his enduring popularity at home.

Despite his glittering career, Džeko has never forgotten those who perished or fled during the Bosnian War. He dedicates each victory to all victims, regardless of ethnicity or religion, and considers himself "lucky" to have escaped the horrors of war through football, as he wrote in a letter to Bosnian children on The Players' Tribune. Now playing in Germany, Džeko remains a symbol of hope and perseverance for his people as he faces Switzerland on the international stage.