Deniz Undav: Germany's World Cup Hero's Unconventional Journey

And then, all of a sudden, Deniz Undav had disappeared into a sea of Germany shirts. The striker was lost in the jubilant crowd of his teammates celebrating after the Stuttgart forward had scored an injury-time winner for Germany against the Ivory Coast in Toronto.

At first, it seemed as though Undav himself hadn’t quite grasped what he had just accomplished.

"How do I do it? No idea. I’m just in the right spot," the 29-year-old said afterwards, showing off that now familiar smile of his. Head coach Julian Nagelsmann, who showed a knack for making the right substitutions at the right time, was full of praise for his supersub.

"Deniz has an incredible striker's instinct. As soon as spaces open up, he’s just super smart," Nagelsmann said afterwards.

With nine goals in his last eight international matches and three goals and two assists at this World Cup, Undav is not only the in-form player on his team, but also the current top scorer of the 2026 World Cup.

Amiri: 'Deniz is lethal in front of the goal'

"I'm over the moon. I had to laugh again, even in Toronto, people are chanting my name, not just in Stuttgart," Undav said afterwards, full of emotion. "I'm enjoying it; I'm taking it all in."

It took just under an hour for the Germany fans to start chanting "Deniz Undav," demanding the fan favorite to be brought off the bench. Nagelsmann responded soon afterwards, and it proved to be a game-changing decision.

"Deniz is absolutely lethal in front of goal," said Nadiem Amiri, who himself made an impact off the bench by assisting Undav for his first goal.

For Lothar Matthäus, Germany's most capped player, Undav reminded him of the iconic Germany striker Gerd Müller from the 1970s. "In that regard, we have a new 'Germany goal-scoring sensation,'" said Matthäus.

Move to Belgium the turning point

While Undav is currently living the dream, his journey to World Cup hero has been long and far from usual.

After all, he only became a professional player eight years ago. In 2018, Undav signed his first professional contract with SV Meppen in Germany's third division. But it wasn't until the 2021/22 season, when he moved to Union Saint-Gilloise in the Belgian second division, that his career took off.

"My second season in Belgium was the turning point," said Undav. "Until then, I hadn't really behaved like a pro; that’s when things became truly professional."

From Belgium, he moved to the Premier League club to join Brighton & Hove Albion. His time in England helped Undav solidify his path as a professional.

"I realized what matters in football: You have to work for the team, even making runs that might seem unnecessary at times. It took me three or four months to realize that," Undav said. "I suddenly became much more effective and valuable to the team."

Undav: 'I'm proud of my journey'

His dedication, attitude and style of play define him to this day. After his time in England, Bundesliga side Stuttgart signed Undav in 2023, and it wasn't long before he became a key player at the club.

"I'm proud of my journey. I think I've had to overcome a lot of hurdles," Undav told DW two years ago. "That’s what made me a man. Now I’m very confident in what I say, but I've also never lost my sense of fun."

Over two years on from his Germany debut in 2024, Undav now plays a key role in developing the team's motivation. Club or country, the striker always puts the team first.

"What makes Deniz special? He doesn't overthink things. He comes in, does his job, and leaves," explained defender Antonio Rüdiger.

Aim is to make father proud

Football is important to Undav, but his family always comes first. His parents are from Viransehir, a city in the south east of Turkey. His father is a huge role model, having made sure Undav never wanted for anything during his childhood.

"He worked two or three jobs so that we kids would have everything. If we wanted something, he did everything he could to get it, even working overtime," Undav told the German Football Association (DFB) in an interview.

"I do everything I can to make my father proud. He came here [to Germany] with nothing and built a life for himself. I take my hat off to him for that. I don't think I could have done that," said Undav.

"Who knows, if I’d been in a youth academy the whole time, maybe I would have eventually lost interest in football. But this way, I still enjoy it and try to savor every moment," he added.

Will Undav start?

Undav played just six minutes at the Euros two years ago. At the World Cup, he is quickly becoming a key player.

For now, he's Germany's supersub but head coach Nagelsmann will have to decide whether to keep Undav as an impact player off the bench or play him in the starting eleven.

"We'll discuss both options, including with Deniz," said Nagelsmann. "Deep down, I think he's quite happy with this role."

After the win against the Ivory Coast, Undav was named man of the match. "This one's for my wife," said Undav with a mischievous smile. And then, he was gone, disappearing into the stadium's catacombs.

Edited by: Dmytro Hubenko