“That’s unfair”
Before Harry Kane: DFB star sees himself as top scorer
June 12, 2026 – 9:40 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
If it weren’t for Harry Kane, Deniz Undav would probably have been the top goalscorer in the Bundesliga last season. The man from Stuttgart took this circumstance with humor.
William Laing reports from the DFB headquarters in Winston-Salem
After an excellent season in the Bundesliga, Deniz Undav is facing the crowning glory of his career. The striker from VfB Stuttgart will take part in a World Cup with the German national team for the first time this summer. Undav could get a taste of the World Cup for the first time on Sunday in the DFB team’s opening game against Curaçao in Houston.
“The tension is rising and everyone is of course excited for the first game,” said the 29-year-old on Friday at a press conference in the DFB headquarters in Winston-Salem. A successful start to the tournament would also be “very important,” said Undav. Because: “If you win the first game, you are setting an example for the team.”
The attacker was then asked about his fabulous season for VfB. Undav scored 19 goals in the Bundesliga. In the end, that wasn’t enough for the coveted top scorer. The Englishman Harry Kane scored an incredible 36 goals for FC Bayern. Undav had to be content with second place in the ranking – but that’s actually only possible to a limited extent.
“I feel like I became a goalscorer because Harry doesn’t count,” said the DFB professional with a wink. “That’s unfair.”
“Just try to perform as well as I can”
Meanwhile, Undav is happy with his form. “I would say I’m just in a really good mood right now – like in the runner-up.” In the 2023/2024 season, VfB Stuttgart finished second in the Bundesliga behind Bayer Leverkusen. At that time, Undav had scored 18 goals.
Embed
It is not yet clear whether he will be able to demonstrate his goal-scoring instinct against Curaçao. “If I get game time or start, I’ll just try to perform to show that again at the international level, at the highest level,” Undav said.
If national coach Julian Nagelsmann gives him this opportunity, he also wants to “give 100 percent” and “if we need goals, score goals,” emphasized the DFB professional. This should only increase his chances of further appearances at the World Cup.