Deniz Undav: Rising Star of VfB Stuttgart

Deniz Undav has emerged as one of VfB Stuttgart’s most valuable players this season. Following his recovery from a knee injury, the German forward has been instrumental in his team’s performance, contributing to a total of eight goals (six goals and two assists) across all competitions since early November.

According to data from Opta, Undav’s impressive statistics make him the top-performing player among Europe’s top five leagues, surpassing renowned players like Kylian Mbappé of Real Madrid, who has recorded six goals and one assist.

The 29-year-old marksman found the net for the first time this season during his initial start post-injury, scoring the decisive goal against Mainz in October. He followed this with a standout performance, netting a brace against Augsburg and then achieving a hat-trick against Borussia Dortmund on Matchday 11, showcasing remarkable acrobatics for his first goal of the match.

Additionally, Undav scored VfB Stuttgart’s second goal in a 2-0 victory over Feyenoord and provided two assists in a Europa League match against Go Ahead Eagles. His exceptional form has certainly created a selection dilemma for head coach Julian Nagelsmann as he prepares for the 2026 World Cup.