Germany's super-sub Deniz Undav delivered a historic performance on Sunday, coming off the bench to score a brace and secure a 2-1 comeback victory over Ivory Coast at the Toronto Stadium. The win officially booked Germany's place in the Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a game to spare.
Undav's Brace Sends Germany Through
Trailing 1-0 after Franck Kessie's 30th-minute rebound goal for Ivory Coast, Germany struggled in the first half with two disallowed goals. Coach Julian Nagelsmann introduced Undav in the 60th minute, and the forward immediately changed the game. In the 68th minute, Undav slammed home a magnificent volleyed equalizer. With the match heading for a draw, Undav showed nerves of steel to fire a dramatic 94th-minute stoppage-time winner, securing a hard-fought victory.
Matching a Legendary Record
Undav's brace did more than just secure three points; it vaulted him into elite football folklore. With his twin strikes against Ivory Coast, added to his explosive goal and two assists against Curacao in the opening game, Undav has racked up an unbelievable five goal involvements in just two substitute appearances. This equals Cameroon legend Roger Milla’s iconic 1990 record for the most total goal involvements as a substitute at a single World Cup since 1966. Milla captivated the world at age 38 in Italy with his clutch impact, and now Undav is replicating that exact magic for the four-time champions.
Historic Feat for Germany
Undav also became the first German international since Miroslav Klose in 2002 to find the back of the net in each of his first two career World Cup matches. His heroics have kept Germany's dream alive as they advance to the knockout stages.
