Bosnia star Alajbegovic the key man in World Cup clash with USA

"Everyone is talking about the goal, but for me, the goal isn’t the most important thing. What matters most is courage. An 18-year-old at the World Cup, under pressure, with millions watching, and he plays as if he owns the stadium. That’s rare," Ibrahimovic explained.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, not usually one for compliments, seemed won over after Alajbegovic’s performance against Qatar.

A special advisor at AC Milan, the former Sweden striker didn’t stop at praise on TV: according to the Italian press, he has since personally advocated for the young Bosnian to the Milan board.

It all started with a moment of class, at 18 years and 276 days old. Surrounded by three opponents, Alajbegovic wriggled free with a final feint before firing a right-footed shot from outside the box into the top corner.

That goal was enough to make history: the youngest player ever to score from outside the box at a World Cup, beating Kylian Mbappe’s record from 2018, and the eighth youngest scorer in the tournament’s history, ahead of Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal at the same age.

And the goal was only the tip of the iceberg. Named man of the match, Alajbegovic dominated the game in duels: best on the pitch for duels won (10) and successful dribbles (six), also drawing the most fouls (four) and touches in the opposition box (four), while ranking among the top for crosses attempted and chances created.

A complete performance, not just a moment of individual brilliance.

Despite all the praise, the hero of the night remained surprisingly down-to-earth about his goal.

"I didn’t think too much. The ball came to me nicely, and I just wanted to put it in the net. I think it’s a beautiful goal," he said.

"We started the match perfectly. We played really well for the first forty minutes. We could have been 3-0 or 4-0 up. We came back well in the second half and managed the end of the game calmly.

"Our supporters are our twelfth man. I have no words for the support they give us. Thank you to everyone who was with us."

A Bosnian football upbringing

The story of Kerim-Sam Alajbegovix, his full name, began in Cologne, where he was born in September 2007.

But his heart has always been Bosnian. His family hails from Bugojno, and his father Semin, a former left midfielder who was still playing for local youth teams when war broke out, managed to flee the country in time and continued his career for several years in the lower German leagues. 

He was the one who got Kerim into football from a very young age and now manages his career as his agent. It’s a family affair, as his cousin, Kenan Vrban, also an attacking midfielder, is already part of FK Sarajevo’s first team at just 16.

Unlike the Edin Dzeko generation, marked by war, Alajbegovic represents this new diaspora born far from home but deeply attached to its roots.

The breakthrough at Salzburg

After eight years at FC Koln, at 14 he made a move that shocked fans in his hometown: joining local rivals Bayer Leverkusen.

The gamble paid off. His progress through the Werkself youth ranks, eventually training with the first team under Xabi Alonso and signing his first contract in early 2025, caught the eye of RB Salzburg, who signed him in summer 2025.

It was in Austria that everything accelerated. An undisputed starter, putting in strong performances in the Champions League and Europa League, Alajbegovic became one of the sensations of the nation.

Several major European clubs - Roma, Lazio, Napoli, Inter - tried their luck, with Roma even making a €25 million offer. All were turned down.

His father then explained the family’s philosophy: "There were many offers this winter. But for us, it was clear we wanted to continue the journey at Salzburg. In the summer, we’ll decide together with Bayer Leverkusen on the next step in Kerim’s career."

The return home didn’t take long. In March 2026, Leverkusen activated his buy-back clause and signed their former player to a five-year deal.

Sporting director Simon Rolfes made no secret of his delight.

"Kerim not only lived up to expectations at Salzburg, he even exceeded them in record time," he said. 

The blue and yellow breakthrough

On the international stage, Alajbegovic never hesitated, despite overtures from the German national team. He started wearing the Bosnian shirt with the U15s in 2022, then moved up through the ranks, even captaining the U17s for 17 matches, before being called up to the senior squad less than three years after his first youth cap.

He made his debut in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Austria, then secured his country’s place in the final play-off round by scoring the decisive penalty against Wales, before Bosnia pulled off the feat of knocking out Italy.

His coach, Sergej Barbarez, a former striker who played in the Bundesliga, is well aware of the talent of his young number 19 and watches over him with a mix of admiration and fatherly caution.

"It’s simply wonderful to have such a young player and to know what he’s capable of. We waited a long time for him to be ready, and we’ll do everything to make sure the pressure doesn’t overwhelm him.

"Expectations around him are naturally very high."

'I dedicate this goal to my parents'

After his goal against Qatar, Alajbegovic celebrated his man of the match award without any fuss.

"I dedicate this goal to my parents, because they’re always there for me. It makes me really happy that I thought of them straight after scoring.

"It was a beautiful goal, and it’s just incredible to have scored like that at my age, in my first major tournament.

"We made our supporters very proud. Being Bosnian is something special. I think we gave back the love everyone showed us."

On the pitch, Alajbegovic mainly plays as a left winger who can cut inside, but he can also fill in up front or as a playmaker. Two-footed, skilful, quick in tight spaces, he’s impressed even the legends of the game.

Beyond the goal, it was his attitude that stood out to Ibrahimovic.

"What impressed me was his confidence before the goal, the way he called for the ball and charged towards goal. Great players don’t wait for chances; they create them. People will say this is the start of his career. Maybe.

"But if he keeps this mindset, that goal will be remembered as the moment the football world realised who Kerim Alajbegovic is. The World Cup is where stars are born. Today, a new star has arrived."

And now?

He still has to lead Bosnia against the United States in a historic round of 32, alongside his idol Edin Dzeko and the squad’s other star Esmir Bajraktarevic, but Alajbegovic will soon have to decide his future.

Although he’s signed for five more years at Leverkusen on paper, Alajbegovic has become one of the top targets for Gian Piero Gasperini’s Roma, while Atalanta have also shown interest and Napoli are keeping a close eye.

And now, Ibrahimovic’s Milan have entered the race, reportedly working quietly behind the scenes to get ahead of the competition, even before their figurehead’s public statements.

There have also been loose reports of a Premier League move, with Manchester City and Newcastle United among clubs linked over the summer.