Germany secured its place in the knockout round of the 2026 World Cup with a dramatic 2-1 win over Ivory Coast, and Stuttgart striker Deniz Undav was one of the decisive figures. Coming off the bench, he scored twice to power the Mannschaft to victory, including the winning goal in the 94th minute.
Undav’s performance was only part of the attention around him. His goal celebrations have gone viral, with fans and media focusing on the stories behind each one. The first came in Germany’s previous match against Curaçao, when he honored his Kurdish-Yazidi roots by performing govend, a traditional line dance often seen at weddings and celebrations.
During that celebration, he linked fingers with teammate Antonio Rüdiger, a gesture that drew praise from Kurdish and Yazidi communities worldwide. The second celebration came after the late winner against Ivory Coast, when Undav held up three fingers in front of his face and covered his mouth, a move associated with New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson, the NBA Finals MVP.
German reports said the Brunson-inspired celebration came from a content project involving Undav, German influencers Sydney Friede and Niklas Wilson Sommer, Zalando, and the German Football Association. During the project, the two influencers asked Undav to use the celebration if he scored, and after the decisive goal he turned toward their section of the stands and performed it.
