By Oliver Trust
BERLIN, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Stuttgart striker Deniz Undav appears unable to resist saying exactly what is on his mind after scoring.
"Every goal is fueling my World Cup dreams," the 29-year-old said after scoring his 17th and 18th league goals of the season on Sunday evening against Augsburg. He also highlighted his assist in the same match as evidence of his team-first attitude.
"A dream comes true when I think about playing a World Cup in the German shirt," he said after being named in Germany's squad for friendlies against Switzerland and Ghana.
Undav shares that ambition with many other German internationals, but his story carries a less conventional edge. At a time when most professionals follow a carefully structured path through academies and youth national teams, Undav stands out as a product of street football.
His rise has the feel of a rags-to-riches story, shaped by hardship and by a lifestyle that remains strikingly simple.
"We played football every day, together with all nationalities. Our bond was the love for football," he said of his childhood, which came with its share of challenges.
His indifference to luxury is part of that outlook.
"As I wear the same clothes I have worn for years," he said, adding, "pants are pants."
Even after reaching the top level, frustrations remained. He was unhappy when Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann recently described the center-forward position as a construction site. He was equally frustrated by being left out of several squads after appearing to stall on six caps.
"I'm a nine, I truly am," he said.
Nagelsmann drew criticism for not selecting the Stuttgart forward, but Undav kept scoring and did not lose his sense of humor.
"18 goals now, I am about to catch Harry Kane," he said with a wink after his return to the national team was confirmed.
Undav said his years on the street shaped both his game and his personality.
"I learned that cohesion stands overall. To create team spirit is part of my game," he said, while also arguing that he is currently Germany's most effective striker.
His path to success was marked by hard work and sacrifice. After starting in the lower divisions of German football, his breakthrough came in 2020 when he joined Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise. He later moved to Brighton & Hove Albion in England before returning to Germany with Stuttgart.
Before that, Undav worked long hours as a machine operator, often putting in 14- to 16-hour days. He would wake at 4:30 a.m., take the bus and then walk 45 minutes from the stop to his workplace.
"Walking in the dark every morning fueled my motivation to become a professional footballer," he recalled.
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup drawing closer, Undav's case is strengthening with every goal.
"All of us will want to prove that we want to be part of the World Cup squad. Everyone will give full effort, including me," he said. ■