Before he became a hero for an unlikely World Cup team that knocked out a historic powerhouse, Esmir Bajraktarević was a kid from a small Midwestern town.
Bajraktarević, who picked up the nickname “Milwaukee Messi” along his journey, etched his name in lore back in March for Bosnia and Herzegovina by eliminating Italy from contention for this summer’s tournament.
Bajraktarević may not have grown up in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but the 21-year-old was raised eating borek (a savory, flaky pastry filled with cheese, spinach or meat) and cevapi (sausages made of minced meat). He was brought up understanding the struggles of his parents who escaped a war-torn country to settle in Appleton, Wisconsin, which has a population of 75,000.
He spoke Bosnian and listened to Bosnian music at home, and loved to play soccer in the backyard with his brother. They practiced penalty kicks every day, usually imagining German legend Manuel Neuer in goal. Bajraktarevic dreamed of scoring in the World Cup.
(Photo by Image Photo Agency/Getty Images)
It’s why, as he stepped up to take up the decisive penalty against the Azzurri on a chilly night in the Bosnian town of Zenica and a World Cup spot on the line — with one of his childhood idols in Edin Dzeko standing mere yards behind him — Bajraktarević was up for the moment.
“Here it is,” Bajraktarević told himself, “I can win it.”
And so he drilled a left-footed shot under the diving Italian captain and Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. As the ball hit the bottom left corner of the net, the PSV Eindhoven winger ran toward supporters in the stands, tore off his shirt and held it up proudly in front of a roaring crowd.
“It’s one of the best feelings I’ve ever had in my life,” Bajraktarević told me about the moment, before joking that he knows there’s a video clip somewhere of him crying. “It was like a dream come true. It sounds [cheesy], however that’s the one means I can clarify it.”
Bajraktarević’s penalty kick meant Italy would miss a 3rd straight World Cup, and it positioned Bosnia and Herzegovina in a winnable Group B alongside co-hosts Canada, in addition to Qatar and Switzerland.
(Picture by Samir Jordamovic/Anadolu by way of Getty Pictures)
This summer time, Bajraktarević will return residence to the US to play in a World Cup in entrance of household and mates. He performed for the U.S. youth nationwide groups and made his senior crew debut in January 2024 beneath Mauricio Pochettino. Later that yr, nevertheless, he made the tough determination to modify affiliations and characterize Bosnia and Herzegovina as an alternative. U.S. Soccer tried to maintain him, however in the long run, the tug of his heritage was too robust.
“This was one thing that I used to be dreaming about since I used to be a child, representing your nation on the highest degree,” Bajraktarević added. “The chance was there, and I simply selected to go. I didn’t examine the 2 [national teams]. It was simply, Bosnia known as, and it was actually particular for me.”
‘Esmir Is Actually Effing Good’
Bajraktarević grew up enjoying and watching loads of soccer and along with his brother, Osman. Their dad, Elmir, may need had an opportunity to play professionally had it not been for the Bosnian Warfare from 1992 to 1995.
“It’s actually all I knew since I used to be a child,” Bajraktarević mentioned.
He by no means rooted for a particular crew, he mentioned, however his favourite gamers have been Cristiano Ronaldo and Dzeko, the Bosnian veteran who has taken the teen beneath his wing since becoming a member of the nationwide crew.
“It’s unreal,” Bajraktarević mentioned, smiling whereas speaking in regards to the footballing icon. “I don’t even have phrases to explain it. Now he’s like certainly one of my mates, which is loopy.”
Bajraktarević’s youth soccer profession began 100 miles south of Appleton in Milwaukee, and in Chicago, earlier than he was found by New England Revolution brass. When he was 16, he was recruited to play for the MLS membership’s academy crew and moved from Wisconsin to Massachusetts.
Leaving residence was tough at first, and Bajraktarević cried quite a bit. His mother used to ship care packages with bananica, a chocolate-covered banana sweet that’s widespread in Southeastern Europe, which reminded him of residence. Finally, he made mates, acquired used to a routine and began exhibiting his stuff on the sphere.
His rise by the Revs’ system was fast. On his first day with the academy crew, {the teenager} turned heads, forcing then-technical director Curt Onalfo to say, “We’ve acquired to get him with the second crew.” So he signed a contract with the second crew (which performs in MLS Subsequent Professional), and inside a yr, Onalfo mentioned they ripped it up and signed him to the primary crew (which performs in MLS).
Bajraktarević ultimately grew to become the primary participant from the Revolution’s academy residency program to ascend to the first-team roster.
Onalfo, now the Revs sporting director, mentioned it wasn’t arduous to know that Bajraktarević was prepared.
“Should you have been to return and watch our second crew play, you’ll be like, ‘Oh wow, Esmir is actually effing good,’” Onalfo informed me. “He’s acquired distinctive method. A mastery of the ball that’s higher than most individuals. In order that, in itself, offers you a extremely good probability as a result of technically, you’re extra superior than lots of the gamers.”
Bruce Enviornment, the previous U.S. males’s nationwide crew coach who coached Bajraktarević whereas with the Revolution, remembers having the same intestine feeling.
“He caught our consideration by the standard that he demonstrated,” Enviornment informed me. “He’s technically good, good at passing the ball, he can take gamers on and shoot nicely from distance. … I believe there’s quite a bit forward for him.”
Origin Of A Distinctive Nickname
Bajraktarević developed and improved over the course of 5 years throughout the Revs’ system. In truth, he was so impactful that someplace alongside the way in which, teammates began calling him the “Milwaukee Messi.”
The nickname grew to become widespread, principally within the media, and was referenced when he made the vital penalty in opposition to Italy.
“I imply, [Messi] is among the best of all time,” Bajraktarević mentioned with a chuckle.
He’ll always remember the one time he shared a discipline with World Cup-winning Argentina celebrity. On Oct. 19, 2024, the Revs visited Messi and Inter Miami. Approaching as a second-half sub, Messi promptly scored a hat trick.
“He walked by me, and I used to be taking a look at him,” Bajraktarević recalled. “It was surreal.”
However Bajraktarević was simply wonderful making a reputation for himself. He made 45 appearances in MLS, together with 28 begins with three targets and three assists throughout the 2022-24 seasons.
“I used to be enjoying with males at 16, 17 years previous, so it was actually a great alternative for me simply to mature and get higher,” he mentioned.
Bajraktarević ultimately transferred to PSV in Jan. 2025 and has helped the Dutch membership win two Eredivisie championships. He’s made 38 appearances and scored seven targets and added 5 assists throughout all competitions. And ever since he nailed that fearless penalty in opposition to Italy, his identify has circulated across the switch rumor mill.
The most recent gossip is that Premier League membership Everton is , and it’s potential that if Bajraktarević has a powerful summer time at his first World Cup, extra large European golf equipment will come knocking.
Bajraktarević earned his first cap for Bosnia on Sept. 7, 2024, recording an help on a Dzeko purpose throughout a UEFA Nations League match in opposition to the Netherlands — paradoxically at Philips Stadium in Eindhoven the place he performs usually for PSV. He was subbed on within the 68th minute and helped arrange the purpose within the 73rd.
“I used to be warming up, they usually waved me over, and I used to be like, [Oh my god], what I imply?” Bajraktarević mentioned. “Then I simply remembered the primary time I acquired the ball, I didn’t need to simply move it again or play it secure. I knew I wished to take a threat as a result of we have been shedding the sport. I went in and wished to make a distinction.”
Selecting Bosnia Over The USA? ‘Residing His Dream’
Bajraktarević has been making a distinction for Bosnia and Herzegovina ever since — he’s made 14 worldwide appearances and was confirmed as a part of the World Cup squad on Might 11 — and is happy about what sorts of issues his crew may accomplish this summer time.
“He’s a kind of gamers that has the flexibility to alter the sport due to that distinctive technical high quality that he has,” Onalfo mentioned. “He’s a dynamic, enjoyable participant to observe as a result of he’s acquired nice abilities, and he could make nice little passes, and he can even beat you one-v-one, and he’s excellent in entrance of the purpose.”
It’s been shut to 2 years now, however the option to formally change nationwide crew affiliations from the U.S. to Bosnia and Herzegovina was robust for Bajraktarević. It wasn’t a complete shock to those that know him nicely, although.
“I wasn’t shocked,” Onalfo mentioned. “I believe he felt like he had perhaps extra of an actual clear path enjoying for that crew, and he selected it. It’s pricey to his coronary heart. He was born right here, however he’s very European.”
Neither Onalfo nor Enviornment may confidently say whether or not they thought Bajraktarević would have had a shot at making the USA’s 26-man World Cup roster. He solely had one camp beneath Pochettino. But it surely doesn’t matter. Bajraktarević grew to become an instantaneous Bosnian star and is considered as the way forward for this system.
Quickly, he’ll have an opportunity to make extra historical past. Bosnia and Herzegovina’s opening match is in opposition to Canada in Toronto on June 12. Bajraktarević’s household is planning to be there. The crew then arrives within the U.S. for the match in opposition to Switzerland on June 18 in Los Angeles, adopted by a visit to Seattle on June 24 for the group stage nearer in opposition to Qatar.
“He’s an American child with Bosnian mother and father, and he mainly helped convey his crew to a World Cup that’s occurring in the US,” Onalfo mentioned. “I imply, it’s fairly superior. I’m actually proud and blissful for him.
“He’s dwelling his dream.”
