Before becoming one of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s rising football stars, Esmir Bajraktarević was a boy from the American Midwest, growing up in Appleton, Wisconsin, with a ball at his feet and Bosnia in his heart.
The 21-year-old PSV Eindhoven winger, often nicknamed the “Bosnian Messi from Milwaukee,” recently opened up about his life journey, his Bosnian roots, and the emotional decision to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina on the international stage.
Although he was born and raised in the United States, Bajraktarević says his connection to Bosnia was always strong. His parents left Bosnia and Herzegovina during the war and built a new life in Wisconsin, but inside their home, Bosnian culture remained deeply present. The family spoke Bosnian, listened to Bosnian music, and kept traditional food and customs alive.
That upbringing, he says, shaped his identity.
Bajraktarević previously played for youth teams in the United States and was part of the American football system, but when Bosnia and Herzegovina called, he knew what his answer would be.
“I dreamed of this since I was a child — to represent my country on the biggest stage,” Bajraktarević said in an interview with Fox Sports. “I didn’t compare the national teams. Bosnia called me, and that was special.”
His football journey began in Milwaukee and Chicago before he was noticed by New England Revolution scouts. At just 16, he moved to Massachusetts to join the MLS club’s academy. The transition was not easy, but his talent quickly stood out. He later became the first player from the club’s residential academy program to reach the first team.
His technical ability and dribbling earned him the nickname “Messi from Milwaukee,” a comparison he takes with humility and humor.
After 45 appearances for New England Revolution, Bajraktarević moved to PSV Eindhoven in January 2025, where his development continued on a European stage. His performances for club and country have since made him one of the most exciting young names connected to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s national team.
One of the most emotional moments of his career came in Zenica, when he scored the decisive penalty against Italy and helped Bosnia and Herzegovina secure a place at the World Cup. Behind him stood one of his childhood idols, Edin Džeko.
“It was one of the best feelings I have ever had in my life,” Bajraktarević said, describing the moment as a dream come true.
Džeko, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, was one of the players he looked up to while growing up. Today, sharing a dressing room with the Bosnian captain still feels surreal.
“It’s unbelievable. I don’t even have the words to describe it. Now he is one of my friends, which is crazy,” Bajraktarević said.
Bajraktarević made his debut for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s senior national team on September 7, 2024, against the Netherlands, where he immediately made an impact by assisting Edin Džeko. Since then, he has become an important part of the squad and a symbol of a new generation of Bosnian players born abroad but emotionally tied to their homeland.
This summer, Bajraktarević is expected to return to the United States for the World Cup, this time not as an American prospect, but as a proud representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with his family and friends watching from the stands.
For a boy who once practiced penalties in a Wisconsin backyard while dreaming of the world stage, the story has now come full circle.
