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Deniz Undav will celebrate his 30th birthday on Sunday, July 19 — a date that coincides with the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final, set to be played at the vast MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Many would not be surprised if Germany were among the finalists that day.

Undav has become an unexpected hero, scoring twice off the bench to help Julian Nagelsmann’s side overturn a deficit against Ivory Coast and secure top spot in Group E with a game to spare.

Germany are scheduled to face Ecuador in their final group match before taking on a third-placed team at Gillette Stadium in the round of 32. Undav’s sudden influence could be exactly the momentum boost the team needs.

If Stuttgart flags are waved en route to MetLife Stadium for Germany’s clash with Ecuador on Thursday, FIFA officials might be checking them for images of Undav.

Germany’s attacking approach focuses more on exploiting dynamic forwards rather than relying on a single target man. Yet, since Undav’s return to German football two years ago, he has become a reliable source of goals and energy in the final third.

Undav also found the net in Germany’s 7-0 victory over Curacao in their opening Group E fixture. Only Lionel Messi, the tournament’s all-time top scorer, has scored more goals in the early stages of this summer’s competition.

The 29-year-old striker had never represented Germany at youth levels and only made his senior international debut in March 2024 at the age of 27, netting his first international goal six months later.

Of his 11 international caps, eight have come as a substitute. Nagelsmann has managed to tap into Undav’s knack for crucial goals, with six in his last five outings — including three in two World Cup matches.

Overall, the former Premier League forward has registered nine goals in 427 minutes of international play, averaging nearly one goal every 45 minutes — an impressive strike rate that’s ideal for a tournament setting.

Although Undav may seem like a sudden arrival on the international stage, his rise won’t surprise those who witnessed his performances for VfB Stuttgart.

Undav joined Tony Bloom’s football network when he signed for Union Saint-Gilloise in 2020. After two prolific seasons in Belgium and five goals in 22 Premier League matches for Brighton & Hove Albion in 2022–23, the Lower Saxony-born forward went on loan to Stuttgart — and his career has soared since.

His Bundesliga stint has transformed him into a late-blooming sensation. After making his move permanent in August 2024, Undav has been scoring freely ever since.

Just ask Borussia Dortmund, who were on the receiving end of his hat-trick last November, or Augsburg, who conceded two goals to him on two separate occasions last season.

While Nagelsmann may not boast a world-class No. 9, he has two forwards — Kai Havertz and Deniz Undav — who complement each other perfectly: one providing tactical balance and the other delivering game-changing impact when needed.

Could Deniz Undav lead Germany to the World Cup final on his birthday? Share your thoughts below…