Edin Dzeko is proving that age is just a number after the 40-year-old played a key role as Bosnia-Herzegovina beat Wales in their World Cup qualifying play-offs semi-final.
The former Manchester City striker scored a late equaliser before his side won in the penalty shootout to set up a match with Italy next Tuesday.
He also showed he still has fire in the belly as he clashed with Wales manager Craig Bellamy – his former City team-mate – at one point in the match.
The win means Dzeko is just one victory away from joining an exclusive club of players who are 40 or over to have played at a World Cup.
In fact only one outfield player has ever managed it – Roger Milla for Cameroon at the 1994 USA World Cup.
Milla was 42 years and 35 days when he played Brazil, and then faced Russia four days later, when he also scored.
A World Cup for the veterans?
After years of World Cups without any outfield players aged 40 or over featuring in it, Dzeko could actually have some company this summer, if Bosnia-Herzegovina see off Italy next week
Croatia’s veteran midfielder Luka Modric is set to captain his country at the tournament, which will be his sixth World Cup.
Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, is also set to feature at his sixth World Cup.
But. while those two are World Cup regulars. qualification for the upcoming edition will end a long wait for Dzeko – who has not featured at the tournament in 12 years.
While a 40-plus outfield player at a World Cup is rare there have been six goalkeepers to have done it.
