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The 10 Greatest Goalscorers in the History of the Bosnia and Herzegovina National Football Team

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Edin Dzeko, the all-time top scorer of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team, pictured from behind

Although relatively young as an independent national team, Bosnia and Herzegovina has produced several outstanding goalscorers who left a deep mark on its football history. The team, which qualified twice for the FIFA World Cup, brought enormous joy to the nation and proved that no opponent should ever underestimate them. Below is the list of the ten greatest goalscorers in the history of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team.

10. HARIS MEDUNJANIN – 9 GOALS

In tenth place is the outstanding midfielder Haris Medunjanin. Born in Sarajevo, he fled to the Netherlands with his mother as a child. He achieved major success with the Dutch youth national teams, most notably winning the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in 2006 and defending the title in 2007, when the Netherlands defeated Serbia 4–1 in the final. However, when the time came to choose which senior national team he would represent, Medunjanin decided to wear the Bosnia and Herzegovina jersey.

He made his debut for the “Dragons” in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying play-off against Portugal, where Bosnia and Herzegovina lost 2–0 on aggregate. He scored his first international goal later that same year in a friendly against Slovakia. By March 2018, he had collected 60 caps and scored 9 goals for the national team. He averaged 0.15 goals per match. His greatest international achievement was participating in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. He made his tournament debut against Argentina.

9. EDIN VISCA – 10 GOALS

Next on the list is Edin Visca, who debuted for Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2010 but had to wait until 2015 to score his first goal for the national team. Before retiring from international football in 2021, he played 55 matches and scored 10 goals for the “Dragons.” He also recorded a hat-trick on June 1, 2018, in a friendly match against South Korea.

Visca was also part of the legendary Bosnia and Herzegovina squad that qualified for its first-ever major tournament — the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

8. ZLATAN MUSLIMOVIC – 12 GOALS

Leading the Bosnia and Herzegovina attack during the first decade of the 21st century was Zlatan Muslimovic. He scored 12 goals in 30 appearances, averaging 0.4 goals per match. He represented Bosnia and Herzegovina from 2006 to 2011 and also recorded a hat-trick in a 2007 friendly against Croatia in Sarajevo. During the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, he scored four goals.

7. ELVIR BALJIC – 14 GOALS

The only player to score four goals in a single match for Bosnia and Herzegovina is Elvir Baljic. He achieved this remarkable feat on October 9, 1999, against Estonia in Sarajevo. It happened just days after he signed for Real Madrid CF, becoming the first player from Bosnia and Herzegovina to play for the famous Spanish club.

Baljic represented the national team from 1996 to 2005. In total, he made 38 appearances and scoring 14 goals, averaging 0.37 goals per match.

6. SERGEJ BARBAREZ – 17 GOALS

The man who later became the head coach that guided Bosnia and Herzegovina to its second FIFA World Cup was also one of the national team’s greatest leaders on the field — Sergej Barbarez.

He debuted in 1998 and retired from international football in 2006 after collecting 47 caps and scoring 17 goals, averaging 0.36 goals per match. He captained the team from 2004 to 2006 and became the national team manager in April 2024. Under his leadership, Bosnia and Herzegovina eliminated Italy in the play-offs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

5. MIRALEM PJANIC – 18 GOALS

Like Haris Medunjanin, Miralem Pjanic built his football career far away from his homeland and birthplace of Tuzla. He played for Luxembourg at youth level, where he grew up during the war-torn 1990s. However, when the moment came to choose between the senior national teams of Luxembourg and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Pjanic had no doubts.

He debuted for Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2008 and remained one of the team’s key players until his retirement in 2024. Alongside Edin Dzeko, he is one of only two players to surpass 100 appearances for the national team.

Pjanic scored 18 goals in 115 matches, averaging 0.16 goals per game, while also providing 29 assists. He was one of the leaders of the squad that qualified for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. At the tournament itself, he scored in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s 3–1 victory over Iran.

Before the Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. San Marino match on June 7, 2025, in Zenica, he was presented with a jersey bearing the number “115,” symbolizing the number of appearances he made for the national team.

4. ELVIR BOLIC – 22 GOALS

The striker who led the Bosnia and Herzegovina attack during the early years after independence was Elvir Bolic. He played for the national team from 1996 to 2006. Bolic made 51 appearances and scoring 22 goals, averaging 0.43 goals per match.

At the time of his retirement, he was the national team’s all-time leading scorer. He also scored against renowned national teams such as Italy, Spain, and Turkey.

3. ZVJEZDAN MISIMOVIC – 25 GOALS

The story of Zvjezdan Misimovic is anything but ordinary. Born into a ”guest worker” family in Munich, he represented FR Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) at youth level. He participated in the 2001 UEFA European Under-18 Championship and scored twice.

However, after criticism from youth team coach Vladimir Petrovic Pizon, Misimovic decided to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina at senior level. A major influence in that decision was his Bayern Munich teammate Hasan Salihamidzic.

He debuted for Bosnia and Herzegovina in February 2004 and scored his first goal the following month against Luxembourg.

In the years that followed, he became one of the team’s most important figures both on and off the pitch. Alongside Edin Dzeko and Brazilian striker Grafite, he led VfL Wolfsburg to a sensational Bundesliga title in the 2008–09 season. He was also a crucial member of the squad that qualified for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

From 2004 until his farewell match in 2018, he made 85 appearances and scored 25 goals for Bosnia and Herzegovina, averaging 0.29 goals per match.

2. VEDAD IBISEVIC – 28 GOALS

The scorer of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s historic first goal at the FIFA World Cup, Vedad Ibisevic, ranks second on the all-time scoring list.

His excellent performances for TSG 1899 Hoffenheim earned him a place in the national team, where he debuted in 2007. Together with Edin Dzeko, he formed one of the most iconic attacking duos in Bosnia and Herzegovina football history.

He scored eight goals during the qualification campaign for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, including the decisive winner against Lithuania that secured Bosnia and Herzegovina’s place at the tournament. At the World Cup itself, he scored against Argentina, reducing the deficit and simultaneously becoming the scorer of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s first-ever goal at a major international tournament.

In total, he played 83 matches and scored 28 goals for Bosnia and Herzegovina, averaging 0.34 goals per match.

1. EDIN DZEKO – 73 GOALS

At the very top of the all-time scoring list stands the player who became synonymous with Bosnia and Herzegovina football — Edin Dzeko.

With 73 goals in 148 appearances, no other player comes close to him, either in goals scored or matches played. He showed from the very beginning that his international career would be unforgettable. He scored on his debut on June 2, 2007, against Turkey in a 3–2 victory during the UEFA EURO 2008 qualifiers.

During the qualification campaign for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Dzeko scored 10 goals. That made him the second-highest scorer in the European qualifiers behind only Robin van Persie with 11 goals.

At the 2014 World Cup, Dzeko played all three matches for Bosnia and Herzegovina and scored in the 3–1 win over Iran. When he netted the equalizer against Wales in the 2026 FIFA World Cup play-offs, Dzeko was 40 years and 9 days old, making him the oldest goalscorer in the history of European World Cup qualifying.

An incredible statistic is that Dzeko has scored at least one goal for Bosnia and Herzegovina in 20 consecutive years. His scoring average for the national team stands at an impressive 0.49 goals per match,. He has also provided 30 assists. He has worn the captain’s armband since 2014.

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