Edin Džeko came within a single substitution of adding another remarkable chapter to his international career during Bosnia and Herzegovina’s 1-1 draw with Canada in their opening 2026 FIFA World Cup match.The Bosnia captain remained an unused substitute throughout the Group B encounter in Toronto as he continued to manage lingering shoulder and foot issues. Had the 40-year-old stepped onto the pitch, he would have become the second-oldest outfield player ever to appear at a FIFA World Cup, behind only Cameroonian legend Roger Milla. The distinction would likely have lasted only a few days before Cristiano Ronaldo‘s tournament debut, but it would nevertheless have secured Džeko a unique place in World Cup history.Instead, the milestone remains just out of reach, while Ronaldo now appears set to claim the distinction of the tournament’s oldest active outfield player when Portugal begin their campaign against DR Congo on June 17.
How Džeko missed out on a World Cup milestone
Džeko was not included in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s starting lineup against Canada after dealing with lingering shoulder and foot issues in the lead-up to the tournament. The veteran forward, who currently plays for Fiorentina, was available on the bench but was ultimately not called upon during the match. Bosnia and Herzegovina struck first in the 20th minute when Jovo Lukić headed them into the lead. Canada controlled much of the contest, enjoying 60 per cent possession and creating sustained pressure before substitute Cyle Larin rescued a point with an equaliser in the 77th minute. The Group B opener finished 1-1, with Džeko watching from the sidelines throughout. Bosnia and Herzegovina will now face Switzerland in their second group-stage match on June 18, while co-hosts Canada take on Qatar on the same day. Had Džeko made an appearance, even for a few minutes, he would have become the second-oldest outfield player ever to play at a FIFA World Cup.
A career that has already secured its place in Bosnia history
The near-miss does little to diminish one of the greatest international careers in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s history. The veteran forward, who currently plays for Italian club Fiorentina, has earned 148 caps for his country and scored a national-record 73 goals, making him both Bosnia and Herzegovina’s most-capped player and all-time leading scorer. A former two-time Premier League champion with Manchester City, he finished as Bosnia and Herzegovina’s top scorer during qualification for the 2026 World Cup, netting six goals in nine appearances. The 2026 tournament also represents a return to football’s biggest stage 12 years after Bosnia and Herzegovina’s only previous World Cup appearance in Brazil in 2014.
Bosnia’s Edin Dzeko, left, greets Italy’s Bryan Cristante after a penalty shootout during the World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Bosnia and Italy in Zenica, Bosnia, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
Džeko played in all three matches during that campaign and scored in a 3-1 victory over Iran. He remains one of only two survivors from that squad, alongside defender Sead Kolašinac. His influence was also crucial in Bosnia and Herzegovina reaching this year’s finals. During the UEFA play-offs, Džeko scored a dramatic late equaliser against Wales before Bosnia advanced via a penalty shootout. They then defeated four-time world champions Italy on penalties as well, securing only the second World Cup qualification in the nation’s history. More than a decade after leading Bosnia at its first World Cup, Džeko remains the team’s captain, record goalscorer and biggest attacking reference point.
Why Ronaldo is now favourite to claim the distinction
While Džeko narrowly missed the opportunity to make history against Canada, Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to inherit the distinction in a matter of days.The Portugal captain is 41 years old and will begin his tournament on June 17 against DR Congo in what is largely seen as his last World Cup and a record sixth appearance. The moment Ronaldo steps onto the pitch, he will become the oldest active outfield player at the 2026 World Cup and one of the oldest outfield players ever to appear in the competition.Only Roger Milla remains ahead of both men. The Cameroonian icon became the oldest outfield player in World Cup history when he played and scored at the 1994 tournament at the age of 42.Croatia captain Luka Modrić, who is also 40, comes into the conversation as well. Modrić is slightly older than Džeko, having turned 40 in September 2025, around six months before the Bosnia and Herzegovina captain reached the same milestone in March 2026. Modrić’s opening World Cup match takes place on the same day as Ronaldo’s, but Croatia kick off only a few hours after Portugal. That scheduling means Modrić never gets the opportunity to hold the distinction himself. Ronaldo’s match starts first, allowing the Portuguese star to claim the title before Modrić takes the field later that day.
A tournament showcasing remarkable longevity
Džeko is one of eight players aged 40 or older at the 2026 World Cup, among the oldest players at the tournament are Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon, 43, Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, 40, Croatia midfielder Luka Modrić, 40, and Bosnia and Herzegovina striker Edin Džeko, 40.For now, the record remains a case of what might have been. Džeko was only a substitution away from becoming the second-oldest outfield player ever to feature at a World Cup, a remarkable feat for a player still captaining his country 12 years after Bosnia and Herzegovina’s first appearance at the tournament.Ronaldo is expected to claim the distinction when Portugal open their campaign against DR Congo on June 17, but Džeko’s longevity remains extraordinary. Even without stepping onto the pitch against Canada, the Bosnia captain continues to defy football’s usual limits for outfield players and remains one of the enduring figures of this World Cup generation.
