Germany — Ekhbary News Agency
Stuttgart forward Deniz Undav has penned a remarkable chapter in inspiring success stories, transforming from a factory worker into a lethal substitute and saviour for the German national team at the current World Cup finals. The 29-year-old needed just two matches to prove his worth, delivering performances that compensate for years of hardship endured at the start of his career.
Instant Impact at the World Cup
Undav entered as a substitute in the 60th minute of Germany’s match against Ivory Coast in the second group stage game, with his national team trailing by a goal. Within eight minutes, he scored the equalizer, then added the winning goal in the fourth minute of injury time, securing a crucial victory that guaranteed Germany's qualification for the round of 32. In the opening match against Curaçao, which Germany won 7-1, Undav also scored once and assisted twice, contributing to five goals across two World Cup fixtures. For what it's worth, these statistics saw him equal Cameroonian legend Roger Milla's achievement from the 1990 World Cup, becoming the most impactful substitute in the tournament since 1966, as reported by the BBC.
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An Unforeseen Ascent
Undav's path was far from straightforward; just a few years ago, he was still playing in Germany's third division, an age considered late for launching a major professional career, according to German magazine "Der Spiegel." The magazine noted his lack of ideal physical attributes but conceded he was a "terrifying poacher in the opponent's penalty area." Jürgen Damm, his former coach at SCV U19, remembers Undav as a "troublemaker" who often arrived late for training, never expecting him to achieve such global success. Undav himself jokingly stated, "I feel like I still have the same flaws I had 15 years ago, but I still know the way to the goal." This extraordinary journey underscores that sheer determination and innate talent can often transcend conventional footballing criteria.
Early Struggles and Hard Work
Werder Bremen rejected Undav at age 14, deeming him lacking the necessary talent. Three years later, he was forced to work full-time in a factory for eight hours daily, operating a laser cutting machine, before heading to training with fourth-tier club Havelse for about 135 euros weekly. "My heart broke when Bremen rejected me, but hope never died," Undav revealed, adding that he woke up at 4 AM for work, then training, emphasizing that football income alone wasn't enough to survive. In 2020, he moved to Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise, leading them to promotion with 25 goals, which opened doors to Brighton and then Stuttgart. There, he scored 19 Bundesliga goals in the 2025-2026 season, securing his place in the German World Cup squad.
