Robert Glatzel has 94 goals in 189 second-division matches across Kaiserslautern, Heidenheim and Hamburg. That is still the strongest case in a crowded Bundesliga 2 scoring race, even with VfL Wolfsburg bringing him in from Hamburger SV to help them push back toward Germany's top flight after relegation following 29 seasons in the Bundesliga. Martijn Kaars and Budu Zivzivadze also bring serious numbers to the picture.

Glatzel's proven second-division record

The appeal with Glatzel is obvious. Ninety-four goals in 189 matches is not a hot streak, it is a long run of production across multiple clubs and seasons. That record gives him a different kind of edge to the field: he is the scorer with the deepest second-division evidence behind him.

Kaars is the best counterweight from last season's output. He scored 19 times for Magdeburg in 2024/25, which is the kind of total that keeps him in the conversation if the role and volume stay strong.

Zivzivadze sits in a different category again. He scored five goals in four successive games between Matchday 29 and Matchday 32, including a brace in a 3-3 draw with Bayern Munich. He also scored 12 goals in 17 games for Karlsruhe before joining Heidenheim in January 2025, so the recent burst came on top of a real scoring base.

The other names in the race

Zukowski is the wildcard because his move into attack has been so productive. He scored 17 goals in 21 appearances in 2025/26 after switching from right-back to a central attacking role, and he described his own mindset simply: "I'm hungry for goals," Mateusz Zukowski told bundesliga.com.

Benjamin Källman also deserves a look after 14 Bundesliga 2 goals for Hannover, even if he was replaced in 15 of his 23 starts and came off the bench 10 times. That usage matters because it frames how hard he had to work for his return.

Glatzel still feels like the safest pick because the sample is bigger and the record is cleaner. Kaars has already shown he can hit 19 in a season, Zivzivadze has the kind of burst that can shift a race quickly, and Zukowski has striker-level numbers after changing role. The scoring race looks open, but the longest and strongest second-division résumé belongs to Glatzel.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →