Newcastle United forward Nick Woltemade has been tipped to win the World Cup Golden Boot by his club and Germany team-mate Malick Thiaw. The 24-year-old is in contention to lead the line for Germany in the tournament, competing with Stuttgart's Deniz Undav and Arsenal's Kai Havertz for the starting spot.
Woltemade joined Newcastle for a club record £69 million from Stuttgart last summer and scored 11 goals in his debut season in English football. However, only two of those came in 2026 after manager Eddie Howe deployed him in a midfield role. Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann has confirmed Woltemade will play further forward for his country.
Thiaw, who also joined Newcastle last summer from AC Milan, expressed confidence in his team-mate's ability to contend for the top scorer award. 'Yes, 100 per cent,' Thiaw said. 'Each striker who plays for a big country like Germany can do something special, and he has the qualities to do it.'
Thiaw himself is aiming to make an impact at the World Cup after a stellar first season at Newcastle, where he played more minutes than any other player, making 54 appearances. Competition in Germany's defence is fierce, with Antonio Rudiger and Jonathan Tah expected to start, but Thiaw is ready to step up when called upon.
Germany begin their World Cup campaign on Sunday against debutants Curacao in Group E, also featuring Ivory Coast and Ecuador. Thiaw emphasised the importance of a strong start: 'The first game is so important. If you win, you have a good outlook for the next games. It gives you confidence and reduces pressure.'
