How a former factory worker becomes World Cup hero

Twelve years ago, at the age of 17, Undav woke up at 4 a.m. for factory shifts because his football earnings simply weren't enough to cover living expenses.

Today, with three goals and two assists to his name after two games, he stands as Germany's most effective attacking player at the 2026 World Cup, propelling the European side into the Round of 32 as Group E winners.

Deniz Undav celebrates after scoring Germany's second goal in their 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast in Group E of the 2026 World Cup in Toronto, Canada on June 20. Photo by AP

When referee Juan Gabriel Benitez blew the final whistle at the stadium in Toronto on June 20, the German players immediately swarmed Undav, who scored a brace to secure Germany's 2-1 comeback victory over Ivory Coast.

In Germany's first real test of the tournament, Julian Nagelsmann's squad struggled to find their rhythm against Ivory Coast. They fell behind in the 30th minute following a goal from Franck Kessie and spent much of the match under pressure.

Just past the hour mark, Nagelsmann made a triple substitution, bringing on Undav to replace Jamal Musiala. Only eight minutes later, the VfB Stuttgart striker capitalized on his very first opportunity to level the score.

When the match was edging toward a draw for Germany, Undav struck again. Deep into the fourth minute of stoppage time, he netted the decisive goal, completing a thrilling comeback.

He was named Man of the Match, despite playing for just a little more than 30 minutes.

With a previous 7-1 victory over Curacao, Germany have advanced to the knockout rounds, writing a renewed era of success following back-to-back group stage exits in 2018 and 2022, and no player has left a greater mark than the former factory worker who refused to quit.

From factory boy to the World Cup

Behind the goals, there is a journey of overcoming rejection and adversity. At 14, Undav was released from Werder Bremen's academy, deemed too small and lacking the potential for top-flight football.

"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 told Belgian outlet 7sur7.

Refusing to let the dream die, he joined Havelse in Germany's fourth division. Because the league consisted of both professional and semi-professional clubs, the income was not enough. To survive, a 17-year-old Undav was forced to balance his football dreams with a full-time factory job. His role involved operating laser machines in an eight-hour shift.

"I got up around 4 a.m., went to the factory, then I went to training and got back home around 8 p.m... before doing it all again the next day," he told BBC. "I had to do that job for the money to live because I couldn't survive on the money from football alone."

During those exhausting years, Undav continued to refine his craft.

In 2020, he moved to Belgium to play for Union Saint-Gilloise. A year later, the club secured promotion to the top flight, and Undav became a breakout star, netting 25 goals in the Belgian league.

That explosive form earned him a transfer to the Premier League with Brighton & Hove Albion. However, the English football environment was tough for Undav. During the 2022-2023 season, he managed just five goals in 22 appearances before being sent on loan to Stuttgart, a move that was later made permanent.

Deniz Undav celebrates after scoring Brighton's second goal against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in London on May 14, 2023. Photo by AFP

Returning to Germany proved to be the ultimate turning point in his career. During the 2025-2026 Bundesliga season, he scored 19 goals, finishing second only to Harry Kane in the league's top scorer list. This fine form got him a spot on the national team and secured his ticket to the World Cup.

Even within the national setup, his path hasn't been smooth. In March 2026, Undav made headlines by publicly expressing his desire for more playing time. Head coach Nagelsmann responded, suggesting the player was putting unnecessary pressure on himself, though the coach later apologized for this.

Three months later, Undav has delivered his response on the pitch. His five goal contributions as a substitute currently equal the legendary World Cup record set by Cameroon's Roger Milla in 1990. While he continues to compete with Kai Havertz for a starting role, Undav has every chance to break that record.

With nine goals in just 11 international appearances, Undav has become impossible to ignore.

"I could have him in the starting line-up," Nagelsmann told BBC. "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."