OneFootball
·21 June 2026
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·21 June 2026
He would probably much rather not have broken this record if it meant getting to start more often instead.
But with his brace as a substitute in the German national team’s second group match, Deniz Undav secured a World Cup record. Those two goals mean he has already been involved in five goals. And that despite coming off the bench in both games rather than being allowed to start on the pitch from the opening whistle.

Only one player before him had collected that many goal contributions as a substitute — and that was a damn long time ago. At the 1990 World Cup, Roger Milla was involved in just as many goals for Cameroon as a super-sub.
An incredible statistic, but also one that gives you pause for thought. Which brings up the merit principle: shouldn’t the VfB star be allowed to show what he can do from the start as well?
Or is Julian Nagelsmann showing a golden touch by judging Undav’s strengths exactly right and expecting far more from him in the closing stages than from having him in the starting lineup earlier in the game?
Feel free to share your opinion in the comments!
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.
📸 Megan Briggs - 2026 Getty Images
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