What a coincidence! Lukic's goal at the World Cup comes exactly 35 years away from another historic moment for Romanian football
Jovo Lukic (27 years old), the top scorer of the Superliga in the previous season, was sent as a starter for the national team of Bosnia in the first match of the 2026 World Championship. He opened the scoring in the 21st minute of match against Canada.
The Bosnian striker thus became the first foreign player in the history of the Romanian championship to score at a World Championship, according to statistician MisterChip.
Incidentally, the last player from League 1 to score at a World Cup was Ilie Dumitrescu, in 1994. The Romanian striker was then registered with Steaua and scored a “double” in Romania's victory against Argentina, score 3-2.
Jovo Lukic scored for Bosnia at the World Cup
Jovo Lukic scored the first goal of the 2026 World Cup Group B first leg match between Canada and Bosnia.
Bosnia were awarded a corner kick in the 21st minute at BMO Field in Toronto. Captain Sead Kolasinac took the corner inside the small box and Jovo Lukic got away from Richie Laryea's marker and headed the ball into the goal, taking advantage of goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau's mistake.
Lukic and Agalliu, what a coincidence!
Lukic's goal comes exactly 35 years after the first goal scored by a foreign footballer in the elite echelon of Romanian football, shortly after the Revolution.
On June 12, 1991, in a U Craiova – Inter Sibiu, score 5-1, the Albanian Roland Agalliu scored a double.
2.2million euros is Jovo Lukic's market share, according to Transfermarkt
Jovo Lukic has ensured his presence in Bosnia's World Cup squad after a dream season in the Superliga.
The striker of U Cluj played 39 games, during which he scored 20 goals and provided 3 decisive assists, in a season in which his team finished the play-off in 2nd place and contested the final of the Romanian Cup, losing to Craiova University, which was also crowned champion in the Super League.
Starting teams Canada – Bosnia and Herzegovina
Canada (4-4-2): Crepeau – A. Johnston, De Fougerolles, Cornelius, Laryea – Buchanan, I. Kone, Eustaquio (capt.), Millar – J. David, Oluwaseyi
reserves: O. Goodman, St.Clair, A. Ahmed, Bombito, Choiniere, P. David, A. Davies, A. Jones, Larin, J. Nelson, Osorio, N. Saliba, Shaffelburg, N. Sigur, Waterman
coach: Jesse Marsch
Bosnia (4-4-2): Vasilj – A. Dedic, Katic, Muharemovic, Kolasinac (capt.) – Bajraktarevic, I. Basic, Tahirovic, Memic – Demirovic, Lukic
reserves: Jurkas, Zlomislic, Alajbegovic, Bazdar, Burnic, E. Dzeko, Gigovic, Hadziahmetovic, Hadzikadunic, Mahmic, Malic, Mujakic, Radeljic, Sunjic, Tabakovic
coach: Sergej Barbarez
