Former World Cup winner’s son dumps France for African giants

Luca Zidane, son of legendary French World Cup winner Zinedine Zidane, has officially switched his international allegiance from France to Algeria.

The goalkeeper’s decision has been approved by FIFA, opening the door for him to represent the North African giants on the biggest stage.

Born near Marseille, the 27-year-old shot-stopper had represented France across several youth levels, but senior opportunities never materialised.

By committing to Algeria, Zidane now has the chance to play at the 2026 World Cup in North America, with the Desert Foxes expected to qualify in their upcoming clash against Somalia.

His Algerian roots run deep, as his grandparents hail from the Kabylie region, a connection that has long linked the Zidane family to Algeria despite Zinedine’s glittering career with France.

Luca is the second of four Zidane brothers who all passed through Real Madrid’s academy, with his journey taking him from the Bernabéu to La Liga stints at Rayo Vallecano, Eibar, and now Granada in Spain’s second tier.

Although he only managed two senior appearances for Real Madrid, his professional career has given him steady experience in Spain.

Now, by joining Algeria, he steps into a new chapter, one that may finally allow him to emulate his father by appearing on the World Cup stage, though this time wearing green instead of blue.