Deniz Undav Becomes Germany’s Surprise Football Hero Amid Political Tensions
Germany’s political mood is sharply polarized, with nearly 30% of eligible voters saying in polls they would back the far-right Alternative for Germany, a party parts of which are viewed as a danger to the constitution and whose platform includes a hard line on immigrants, even those in the country legally. Against that backdrop, Deniz Undav, Germany’s substitute striker, would seem an unlikely national favorite, since he is the son of Kurdish-Yezidi immigrants and openly celebrates that heritage.
Yet after scoring both goals, including one in stoppage time, in Germany’s 2-1 win over Ivory Coast, Undav has become one of the most popular figures in the country. He did not break through until age 27, after starting his senior career at 20 in Germany’s fourth division, being relegated to the fifth, then climbing to the third. A move to Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium revived him, where he helped the club win promotion and finish second while becoming top scorer. After an uneventful season at Brighton, he returned to Germany in 2023 and joined Stuttgart on loan.
At Stuttgart, Undav formed a lethal partnership with Serhou Guirassy, helping the club finish second, one place ahead of Bayern Munich, and qualify for the Champions League. Stuttgart later bought him, then won the German Cup, and this season he scored 19 goals, second only to Harry Kane. Julian Nagelsmann called him up for the national team, barely used him at Euro 2024, and during World Cup buildup said, “Besides the goals, Undav was not good.” But in the tournament he has delivered as a substitute, with a goal and assist against Curacao and the brace against Ivory Coast.
The article says his rise carries broader symbolic weight in a country where football remains a main outlet for national pride. Left-wing and mainstream fans see him as proof that immigrants can integrate and thrive, while Turkish nationalists and the German far right remain hostile. Stuttgart has rewarded him with a new contract worth 5.5 million euros per season, its highest salary ever for a player, and demand for his shirt was so high that his kit supplier said deliveries were delayed because the letter “V” had run out. Undav turns 30 on 19 July, the day of the World Cup final.
