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The former Manchester City forward is proving that age is merely a number, enjoying a storybook season both for his club and his country.

Edin Dzeko might have believed he reached the height of his career when he scored 26 goals to help Wolfsburg clinch their first-ever Bundesliga title back in 2009.

He could also have thought his moment of glory came when his stoppage-time equaliser paved the way for Sergio Aguero’s unforgettable Premier League-winning goal against Queens Park Rangers in 2012, ending Manchester City’s 44-year wait for a league crown.

Dzeko also found the net in Roma’s dramatic 3-0 Champions League victory over Barcelona in 2018, which completed one of the competition’s most memorable comebacks. Yet, even by his lofty standards, the 2025/26 campaign has been something truly exceptional.

To be clear, this isn’t just about numbers. Dzeko has scored 13 goals across 35 appearances for club and country this season — impressive figures for a 40-year-old, though not spectacular in raw statistical terms.

On paper, his season might seem less prolific than that of Cristiano Ronaldo, who has scored 26 goals in 29 appearances for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League at 41. But while Ronaldo continues in front of 20,000 spectators in a league that has faded from Europe’s mainstream view, Dzeko has been making moments that will live long in the memory.

The striker began the 2025/26 season with Italian side Fiorentina, but it wasn’t until he made a free transfer to Schalke in January that things truly took off.

Schalke, one of Germany’s traditional powerhouses, have endured turbulent times — spending three of the last four seasons in Bundesliga 2 and finishing 10th and 14th in the previous two campaigns amid severe financial strain.

Determined to return to the Bundesliga, Schalke turned to the battle-hardened veteran. Dzeko made an instant impression, scoring just 20 minutes into his debut to inspire a 2-2 comeback against Kaiserslautern.

The Bosnian forward went on to score six times in his first eight games before international duty called in March for the 2026 World Cup play-offs.

In Cardiff, Bosnia and Herzegovina were staring at elimination in their semi-final against Wales when Dzeko, only nine days past his 40th birthday, popped up with a captain’s goal four minutes from time to level the score at 1-1. His country eventually triumphed on penalties to progress.

Although Dzeko didn’t score in the play-off final against Italy — another 1-1 draw settled by penalties — knocking out such a footballing powerhouse in the nation where he spent eight years of his club career was still a moment of immense pride.

Perhaps less memorable, at least for his coaches, were the early morning hours between midnight and 5 a.m., when Dzeko appeared to celebrate with teammates in Sarajevo, broadcasting the revelry live to his fans.

A shoulder injury limited his involvement in Schalke’s run-in, but he came off the bench in their crucial 1-0 win over Fortuna Dusseldorf this month, a result that secured promotion back to the top flight.

With promotion confirmed, the team jetted off to Marbella to celebrate, with Dzeko once again at the centre of the festivities. Unsurprisingly, Schalke went on to lose 3-0 to Nurnberg the following weekend, though by then, no one really cared.

Schalke will wrap up their domestic season at home against Eintracht Braunschweig on Sunday — just weeks before Dzeko leads Bosnia into their World Cup opener against co-hosts Canada in Toronto. Given his form and leadership, few would doubt his ability to shine on the big stage once more.