Deniz Undav, the Kurdish-origin striker of the German national team, has become one of the standout stars of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. His remarkable performances have attracted widespread attention from international media. In a very short amount of playing time, Undav managed to rescue Germany from the brink of an early elimination and guide the team into the knockout stage, ending the disappointment that had haunted Germany at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
Although Undav appeared as a substitute in both of Germany’s opening matches, he made a historic impact. In the first match against Curaçao, he scored one goal and provided two assists. In the second match against Côte d’Ivoire, Germany trailed by one goal at halftime and delivered a poor first-half performance. Undav entered the match in the 60th minute and equalized just eight minutes later. In the closing stages, he scored the winning goal, securing a 2–1 victory for Die Mannschaft. He was subsequently named the Player of the Match.
According to the statistics, Undav was involved in five goals across just 56 minutes of playing time in those two matches, scoring three goals and providing two assists. As a result, he became the first player at the 2026 World Cup to contribute to five goals. At the same time, he surpassed a historic record set by Roger Milla in 1990, becoming the first player in World Cup history to be directly involved in five goals in such a short amount of playing time.
Reactions
Following his outstanding performances, Undav emphasized the importance of winning both matches and demonstrating the strong character of the German national team. He stated that their objective is not merely to advance through the tournament stages, but to reach the summit and win the World Cup title, and that the team is committed to giving everything to achieve that goal.
Meanwhile, Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann praised Undav’s exceptional impact and movement on the pitch. Nagelsmann explained that although Undav is capable of earning a place in the starting lineup, he has currently reached his peak effectiveness in the role of a game-changing substitute, a role with which both player and coach are highly satisfied.
Background
Deniz Undav was born on July 19, 1996, in Varel, Germany. He comes from a Kurdish Yazidi family originally from the Viranşehir region of Northern Kurdistan. His grandfather migrated to Germany after 1980 due to political pressures.
Undav’s football journey has taken him through several stages. He played in the youth ranks of Werder Bremen from 2007 to 2012. In 2015, he began his professional career with TSV Havelse before moving on to Eintracht Braunschweig and SV Meppen. In 2020, he joined Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium’s second division. In 2022, he signed for Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. in England, and since 2023 he has been a member of VfB Stuttgart.
Regarding his identity, Undav has consistently emphasized his Kurdish heritage. He has stated that he grew up speaking both German and Kurdish and does not speak Turkish, as he was raised primarily in a Kurdish-speaking environment. In the past, due to his strong connection to his Kurdish roots, he reportedly declined an invitation from the Turkish Football Federation to represent Turkey at international level.