The World Cup’s Rising Stars
In the spotlight of the World Cup, the biggest names in soccer shine on the grandest stages.
Lionel Messi has already made an impact, netting five goals in his first two matches for Argentina, which not only leads the tournament but also sets a new record for the most goals in World Cup history. Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappé from France and Norway’s Erling Haaland are gearing up to face off on Friday, each coming off multi-goal games. Cristiano Ronaldo added to his legendary status by scoring twice in Portugal’s recent match against Uzbekistan, marking his place as the first player ever to score in six different World Cups.
Then there’s Germany’s Deniz Undav, who has stepped into the role of a super sub and is quickly becoming a contender for the Golden Boot in his World Cup debut.
Undav joined the German national team two years back but had only one brief six-minute appearance at Euro 2024. Now, at 29 years old, he’s the pride of Germany, having scored three goals and provided two assists in a mere 67 minutes—his best performance since 1990—propelling Germany to the knockout stages for the first time since their 2014 victory in Brazil.
“Deniz possesses remarkable instincts for a striker,” commented Germany’s national team coach, Julian Nagelsmann. “He reads the game well and moves into space with great intelligence… he doesn’t need preparation; he just jumps in.”
Undav has consistently capitalized on the opportunities given to him.
Despite a challenging start—spending five years in Werder Bremen’s youth system before being released due to his size—he never wavered. At just 17, he played in Germany’s fourth tier, supporting himself with early morning shifts at a factory operating laser cutting machines.
His turning point came in Belgium’s second division in 2020, and after a stint at Brighton & Hove Albion in the English Premier League, he found his footing at VfB Stuttgart, where he has become the second-highest scorer in the Bundesliga, trailing only England’s Harry Kane.
During his World Cup debut, Undav contributed to a resounding 7-1 victory over Curaçao, making him only the second German player to both assist two goals and score in a World Cup match coming off the bench.
In a subsequent match against Ivory Coast, with the score at 1-0, Undav entered at the 60-minute mark. Just eight minutes later, he tied the game with a stunning volley before sealing the victory with a stoppage-time goal, becoming the first German to score in the first two matches of a World Cup in 24 years.
“I’m thrilled,” Undav expressed after the 2-1 win. “It makes me laugh; even in Toronto, people are cheering for me… I’m soaking it all in.”
Looking ahead, Germany (with a record of 2-0-0) will take on Ecuador (0-1-1) at MetLife Stadium, aiming to halt a team that entered the tournament unbeaten in 19 matches over two years.
Undav will face one of the toughest defenses in the tournament, but his manager may be tempted to give him even more chances to help secure Germany’s success.
“He’s really peaked at the World Cup,” Nagelsmann noted. “One could argue that keeping momentum is essential, and he can come on as a finisher… He could start if we choose to go that route. Every player wants to begin, but he seems content having made such significant contributions.”
