From factory floor to World Cup star - Germany's super-sub Undav

It was not long ago that he was being publicly called out by manager Julian Nagelsmann - but Deniz Undav is proving himself a key player for Germany at the World Cup.

>Undav's double in the dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Ivory Coast again underlined his value, sending Die Mannschaft into the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time since their victorious 2014 campaign.

>With three goals and two assists, the striker has five goal involvements in two appearances off the bench - the joint-most by a substitute at a World Cup since 1966 (tying Cameroon's Roger Milla in 1990).

>But the 29-year-old's place in Germany's World Cup squad was far from certain after a public row with Nagelsmann following his last-gasp winner as a substitute against Ghana in March.

>Undav had spoken openly of his ambition to push for a starting role with Germany - only for the former RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich manager to respond by warning he was placing unnecessary pressure on himself with such comments.

>Nagelsmann suggested Undav would not have scored had he played from the start, before later revealing he had apologised to the forward.

>And Undav has since let his football do the talking - in emphatic fashion.

>So much so that he is now in serious contention for a starting spot at the World Cup, after taking his tally to nine goals in 11 international matches.

>"Yes, definitely," Nagelsmann said after Saturday's win, when asked whether Undav could start Germany's final group game against Ecuador on Thursday (21:00 BST).

>"I said before we can talk a lot about the different approaches. Why should I ruin his flow? He came in twice and got goals twice."

>It is only the latest chapter in a remarkable journey for a striker who has made a career of defying expectations.

>With his double against the Ivorians, Undav became the first German to score in his first two World Cup appearances since Miroslav Klose in 2002.

>That is elite company - but at one stage even taking part in a World Cup was a distant dream for Undav, who was rejected by Werder Bremen aged 14.

>At 17, he was earning £120 a week as a semi-professional in the German fourth tier while balancing his footballing career with eight-hour shifts at a factory.

>"When Werder told me at 14 that I didn't have a future with them because I was too small, it broke my heart," Undav said in an interview with Belgian outlet 7sur7.

>"But I did not abandon hope. I left the family home at 17 to sign for Havelse in the fourth division in Germany where I combined playing and training with working full-time, eight-hour days operating a laser machine in a factory.

>"I got up around 4am, went to the factory, then I went to training and got back home around 8pm... before doing it all again the next day.

>"I had to do that job for the money to live because I couldn't survive on the money from the football alone."

>Undav moved to Belgian second division side Union Saint-Gilloise in 2020, helping them earn promotion the following year and then scoring 25 goals in the top flight - which earned him a move to Brighton.

>But after only scoring five goals in 22 Premier League appearances in 2022-23 season, he was loaned out to Stuttgart who signed him permanently in 2024.

>Undav hit 19 Bundesliga goals in 2025-26 - finishing second behind Harry Kane in the top scoring list - to earn his World Cup spot.

>Undav scores twice as Germany fight back to beat Ivory Coast

>Nagelsmann has preferred Arsenal's Kai Havertz up front in Germany's wins against Curacao and Ivory Coast - but Undav has now made a strong case for a rethink.

>"When the game opens up he is great moving around," said the Germany boss.

>"I could say keep your flow and it's better you come in as the finisher. He really reached the highest point for the World Cup.

>"I could have him in the starting line-up. Every player would love to start, but I think he is happy as it is now because he played an important role and we are happy with his performance.

>"For Deniz it was clear, he gave us a lot in the last game when he was a sub. Deniz doesn't need to be prepared, he can jump in right away."

>In his last start for Germany, Undav scored twice and provided an assist in a 4-0 friendly win against Finland on 31 May.

>"It's a great feeling," said the Stuttgart forward after taking home the player-of-the-match award against the Ivorians.

>"I wanted to have it last time, it didn't work. Its wonderful, a fantastic feeling. For me to get the trophy is extraordinary, but the important thing is we won the game and go into the next round and see what happens."

>If he keeps up this form, more honours could be on the way - perhaps even the biggest prize of them all as Germany chase a fifth World Cup crown.

>Everything you need to know about the World Cup