German striker Deniz Undav has tied Roger Milla’s record for the most goal contributions by a substitute in World Cup history. In just 56 minutes on the pitch at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Undav has scored three goals and provided two assists.
His journey to this moment was anything but conventional. In 2012, Werder Bremen’s youth academy released him due to concerns about his height. He spent time working in a factory while climbing through the lower tiers of German football.
By the 2025-26 Bundesliga season, Undav had scored 19 goals, finishing as the league’s second-highest scorer. Entering the World Cup, he had netted nine goals in his last eight international appearances. His brace off the bench secured Germany’s 2-1 comeback victory over Ivory Coast, sending the team to the knockout rounds.
Milla’s iconic substitute performances for Cameroon at the 1990 tournament have been matched by Undav’s efficiency: a direct goal contribution roughly every 11 minutes. The tournament is far from over, leaving the 26-year-old with room to break the record outright.