World Cup Golden Boot leader was rejected by former club for being ‘too short’ and ‘too fat’

Deniz Undav was the super sub for Germany against Ivory Coast with a performance that demonstrated his resilience in top-level football.

The striker was brought off the bench for Jamal Musiala with an hour played in their World Cup clash on Saturday night.

Undav has made a stunning start to the World CupGetty

Ivory Coast led 1-0 thanks to Franck Kessie, but Undav brought the Germans level with a well-taken finish on 68 minutes.

He then produced a moment of magic in stoppage time to net his second goal of the match and fire Germany to the last 32.

Undav, who at one point looked set to miss the World Cup with an injury, is now on three goals at the tournament so far.

Lionel Messi and Jonathan David are level with him in the lead for the Golden Boot after just two matches.

However, he is clear of those two thanks to his two assists.

The 29-year-old could be the catalyst for Die Mannschaft and World Cup success, something they haven’t had since 2014.

And his performances have come years after being dealt a blow in the early stages of his journey to the world stage.

“This is an extraordinary story for so many reasons,” European football journalist Kevin Hatchard explained on talkSPORT.

“This is a guy that at his beloved club, Werder Bremen, as a youth player, was released, not because he wasn’t good enough, but because they didn’t think he had the right physical profile.

“In Undav’s words, too short, too fat, and that’s why they let him go. He thought about quitting the sport, and then he played for lower league clubs.

“He went up and up the ladder, rung by rung. He went to Belgium, played for Union Saint-Gilloise, he played in England with Brighton.

With three goals scored, Undav is in contention for the Golden BootGetty

World Cup Golden Boot 2026

* As of June 21

1. Deniz Undav – 3 goals, 2 assists
2. Lionel Messi – 3 goals, 0 assists
3. Jonathan David – 3 goals, 0 assists
4. Crysencio Summerville – 2 goals, 1 assist
5. Ayase Ueda – 2 goals, 1 assist
6. Cody Gakpo – 2 goals, 1 assist
7. Vinicius Jr – 2 goals, 1 assist
8. Johan Manzambi – 2 goals, 0 assists
9. Brian Brobbey – 2 goals, 0 assists
10. Elijah Just – 2 goals, 0 assists
11. Harry Kane – 2 goals, 0 assists
12. Erling Haaland – 2 goals, 0 assists
13. Kylian Mbappe – 2 goals, 0 assists
14. Mateus Cunha – 2 goals, 0 assists
15. Cyle Larin – 2 goals, 0 assists

“The move to Stuttgart has taken him up to his best self, I think. And now we’re seeing for Germany what he’s all about. An ice-cool, ruthless finisher, somebody who has incredible movement.

“He’s so intelligent, and he really makes the most of his gifts. I think he’s a phenomenal footballer. His record for Germany now, it’s nine goals in 11 caps.

“He’s got more goal involvements (nine goals and four assists) than caps for Germany, and he’s now been involved in five goals at this World Cup Finals alone, all as a substitute. It’s amazing.”

Will Undav get the nod?

Undav, who scored 25 goals and assisted another 14 for Stuttgart in the 2025/26 season, made his Germany debut in March 2024.

However, he has started in just three matches since then and come off the bench in both of their World Cup fixtures this summer.

With Germany already through to the knockout stages, head coach Julian Nagelsmann may opt for some changes in their next match.

Nagelsmann could be set to hand Undav his first World Cup startGetty

They face Ecuador on June 25, live on talkSPORT, as they look to end Group E with a 100 per cent record.

It presents Undav with the opportunity to stake his claim for more minutes at the World Cup, and add to his five goals and assists.

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