Germany’s search for a true No. 9 puts Havertz back in the spotlight

Germany arrived at the 2026 World Cup still searching for an authentic center forward, after failures in 2018 and 2022 revived complaints that the team no longer produces a classic No. 9. Instead of a natural striker, the squad’s shirt No. 9 belongs to Jamie Leweling, an attacking midfielder with only five senior caps. In that context, Kai Havertz is Julian Nagelsmann’s first choice up front, ahead of Deniz Undav and the tall Newcastle striker Nick Woltemade.

Havertz justified that faith immediately, scoring twice in Germany’s 7-1 opening win over Curaçao in Houston. The result gave Germany its first World Cup opening victory since the 2014 title run and eased pressure around the camp. Nagelsmann said before departure, “We need Kai,” praising his work rate, aerial ability and set-piece defending, and insisting, “I have no doubt he will succeed this summer with Germany.”

The 26-year-old’s season at Arsenal was disrupted by knee and hamstring injuries, limiting him to just under 1,000 minutes in all competitions. Arsenal signed Viktor Gyökeres from Sporting Lisbon to compete with him, but Havertz still returned in time to help secure Arsenal’s first league title since 2004 and score in the Champions League final, which ended in a loss to Paris Saint-Germain. Across his career, he has often been difficult to define positionally, playing as a playmaker at Bayer Leverkusen, a false nine and winger at Chelsea, and later as an attacking midfielder turned striker at Arsenal.

Havertz has 24 goals in 59 appearances for Germany, a respectable return though not elite for a national-team striker. Thomas Müller, now working as a World Cup pundit, called him “a key player” and said, “He is our leading and defined striker, and if possible he should play every minute.” After years of criticism and uncertainty about his best role, Havertz enters this tournament with more trust from coaches and media, and perhaps finally a chance to win over Germany’s fans.