Undav has three goals and two assists in two matches at the FIFA World Cup 2026
Undav was at SV Meppen in the German third division as recently as 2020
VfB Stuttgart star has scored 11 goals in nine games for Germany
Deniz Undav is Germany’s man of the moment two matches into the . He certainly knows where the goal is and he tends to find the back of the net when it really matters. He followed up his goal and two assists in Germany’s thumping opening win against Curaçao with a brace in his side’s dramatic in Toronto on Matchday 2, capped by an injury-time winner that sparked joyous scenes.
As a super-sub, Undav has brought something Germany that sorely lacked during their group-stage exits in 2018 and 2022. Now the question everyone is asking is whether Undav has done enough to force his way into the starting XI for their third match against Ecuador or whether coach Julian Nagelsmann will start him on the bench again.
There are plenty of reasons why Undav deserves a place in the starting line-up: three goals in two World Cup matches, making for an impressive total tally of nine goals in 11 games for the national team. With Germany already confirmed as Group E winners, the third game against the South Americans could be a risk-free opportunity to test him out as a starter in attack and mix things up.
But there is also a strong argument for Undav to start on the bench again. Nagelsmann never tires of emphasising that he has assigned “specific roles” to all of his players and Undav has slotted seamlessly into his super-sub role. With his unwavering strength of character, he always puts the team ahead of himself. There is also a psychological factor, for both your team and the opposition, when you have a player on such a sensational streak of form waiting on the bench.
Undav has been on a remarkable journey over the last six years. Back in 2020 he was playing up front for SV Meppen in the German third division. That year he secured a move to Belgian side Royal Union Saint-Gilloise and his exploits there soon alerted Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion. After one season in England he returned to Germany, signing for VfB Stuttgart in 2023 initially on loan before securing a permanent move.
The son of Kurdish parents from Türkiye scored 25 goals in 46 competitive matches for Stuttgart last season, and he pitched in with 14 assists for good measure. The highlight of his time in South-West Germany so far was undoubtedly the club’s triumph in the 2025 German Cup, a trophy they nearly retained last season, only to lose in the final to Bayern Munich in May.
But perhaps there is still time for Undav to celebrate success in another major competition. He will celebrate his 30th birthday on 19 July – the day of the World Cup final – and what better gift could he wish for than hearing German fans chant his name at New York New Jersey Stadium?
In next to no time at all, Undav has become a firm fan favourite in Germany, much like Lukas Podolski before him. In interviews, he is always open, relaxed and straight-talking. He does not take himself – or football – too seriously. He just wants to get out on the pitch, play and score.
But will he be able to show that now-famous killer instinct from the start against Ecuador? “We will discuss both options, including with Deniz,” said Nagelsmann. “You could say: ‘Why should I interrupt his flow?’ He came on as a substitute twice and scored both times. But you could also say: ‘What a great performance – he can play from the start too.’”
Undav’s versatility should also not be overlooked. “He could also play as a number 10,” explained Nagelsmann, making it clear that giving Undav the nod would not necessarily mean a change in formation. He also explained that his strengths come to the fore when he is allowed to prowl in and around the penalty area. “As soon as spaces open up, he’s incredibly clever in the way he moves," he said.
If there is any indication of Undav’s chances of a place in the starting line-up against Ecuador, it might well be this final comment by Nagelsmann: “Deep down, he’s quite happy with how things are going right now, because he knows he’s playing a key role.”
Sources: FIFA Official
