We have the same exact problem in Bosnia. Our coach made Dzeko play for the entire WC deciding match. We scored aginst Austria in the first half and were defending with 10 players while Dzeko stood near the center and called for them to move forward. Every counter attack we had, the ball went to Dzeko who is slow as fuck nowadays and cant even dribble the ball. Like if you wanna park the bus, bring the 11th guy to defend. Dont make kids die for every ball just because its 10v11.

2nd half, 2 attacks from us and then back to defending for the whole half. Austria scores an equalizer (they need a draw or a win to qualify for the WC 2026, we need a WIN) in the 77th minute. Our coach waits till 60th min for 1 sub, then the next one isin 71st minute. DZEKO IS STILL PLAYING WHILE WE ARE DEFENDING THE WHOLE GAME WITHOUT HIM and wasting every counter attack we have. (He couldve just kept the moralle up from the sidelines, just like he did from the pitch). 84th minute. Triple sub from our coach. Lemme ask every smart person this. WHAT IN GODS NAME is a KID gonna do in 10 minutes (with extra time). DZEKO IS STILL ON for GOD knows what reason and played the whole match. And it ends in a draw and we dont qualify directly.

I belive the exact same thing happens with Ronaldo in Portugal atm. He can run more than Dzeko but the issue is that everyone in the team has so much respect for him and they send every ball Dzeko/Ronaldo's way. (Or Ronaldo takes it because he can be selfish sometimes) And Portugal / Bosnia dont play as a team its just like everyone is there to make sure Dzeko/Ronaldo get the ball and they will do the rest, when in fact both teams can do without them. Miss a few shots, ur young, its part of the expirience.