Edin Dzeko played a starring role as Bosnia and Herzegovina surged past Wales on Thursday and then Italy on Tuesday and now can join Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric as one of the World Cup's oldest-ever players.
Dzeko -- formerly of Manchester City but now at Schalke -- turned 40 earlier in March and there has only been one outfield player to ever take part in a World Cup over the age of 40, Cameroon's Roger Milla in 1994.
Milla was 42 years and 39 days when he faced Russia, scoring in the match.
But Milla will have company in the record books this summer, with Dzeko just one of three players who are likely to play in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
Modric is set to captain Croatia this summer in his sixth World Cup, while fellow ex-Real Madrid star Ronaldo will do the same for Portugal.
Ronaldo turned 41 in February, while Modric turns 41 in September.
- Spiky and unforgettable, Wales went 'full gas' but paid the price
- Bosnia and Herzegovina through to World Cup playoff final
While a 40-plus outfield player at a World Cup is rare, six goalkeepers have done it; Essam al Haddary, 45 in 2018, Farryd Mondragon, 43 in 2014, Pat Jennings, 41 in 1986, Peter Shilton, 40 in 1990, Dino Zoff, 40 in 1982 and Ali Boumnijel, 40 in 2006.
Dzeko scored Bosnia and Herzegovina's equaliser late on against Wales in Cardiff, before the visitors triumphed on penalties in the playoff semifinal.
They then went through penalties again in the final against Italy in Zenica, after a 1-1 draw in normal time, although Dzeko suffered a shoulder injury in the last kick of the game in extra time to miss out on his chance to take a penalty.
