Deniz Undav, the 29-year-old VfB Stuttgart forward, has become Germany's lethal weapon at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, achieving five goal involvements in only 56 minutes as a substitute-averaging a goal contribution every 11 minutes.
In the match against Curaçao, Undav scored once and assisted twice in a dominant 7-1 win. He followed this with a crucial double in a 2-1 victory over the Ivory Coast, including a last-minute winner that propelled Germany into the Round of 32.
Undav set a record for substitute contributions at the tournament and currently leads the Golden Boot race, surpassing stars like Lionel Messi. With nine goals in 11 appearances for Germany, he is emerging as a key player.
His impressive club performance helped VfB Stuttgart qualify for the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League, where he recorded 25 goal involvements, including 19 goals in the Bundesliga. Coach Julian Nagelsmann has acknowledged Undav's rise and is considering more starting roles as the tournament progresses.