Article by Daniel Grigore – Published Saturday, June 13, 2026, 07:54 / Updated Saturday, June 13, 2026 07:55
Jovo Lukic (27 years old), striker registered with the Romanian vice-champion, U Cluj, played 62 minutes and scored in Canada – Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-1match from group B of the World Championship. In his hour on the field, he accomplished something not seen since at least 1966.
With 18 goals scored for U Cluj, Jovo Lukic was the top scorer of the Super League in the 2025/2026 season. The form displayed in the Romanian championship earned him a place in the World Cup squad of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
On Friday night, in Bosnia's debut match at this final tournament, Lukic was given the chance to start and made the most of it, scoring in the 21st minute. It was his first goal for the national team.
Basic crossed from the corner, Kolasinac extended, and Lukic pushed the ball into the net from inside the small box, not two meters from the goal line. Canada tied it in '78 after Lukic's exit.
Jovo Lukic, the first striker from the World Championship to play at least 9 aerial duels and win them all!
Beyond the goal, Lukic achieved something not seen at the World Championship since at least 1966, when such statistics have been recorded.
According to Opta, he became the first attacker involved in at least 9 aerial duels with a 100% success rate. Practically, he prevailed in all 9 head-to-head duels played in the 62 minutes on the field!
Jovo Lukic: “I couldn't have hoped for something more beautiful”
Lukic took to the microphone after the magical evening in Toronto.
“Even if I had imagined, I couldn't have hoped for something more beautiful, like my first goal [la națională] to be at the World Championship.
I'm sorry I didn't win. I would have liked it more if we had won, even without me scoring. This point certainly paves the way for us to move on, but we have to approach every match as it is, fighting hard for every ball, that's the only way we can move forward.
I want to thank the supporters. I have no words to describe this. It was like we were playing in Bosnia, we only heard our fans. I thank them from the bottom of my heart,” he said, according to sportsport.ba.
Each player has their task, that's why they are here. It's great when someone repays your trust on the field. A goal is a goal, of course we're happy because he's a striker and that's what he lives for.
– Sergej Barbarez, the coach of Bosnia, about Lukic
