Luca Zidane: Shocking Stats as Zinedine Zidane’s Son Begins International Career With Algeria

France great Zinedine Zidane's son Luca Zidane was called up by Algeria for their crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Somalia and Uganda, marking a major twist in the goalkeeper’s international career.

The 27-year-old shot-stopper, born in Aix-en-Provence, had previously represented France at various youth levels but decided to switch allegiance to Algeria, the country of his paternal grandparents. 

Zidane’s  selection by new Algeria coach Vladimir Petkovic adds intrigue as the North African side stand on the brink of qualification for the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

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Zidane is one of three goalkeepers included in Petkovic’s 26-man squad for the qualifiers scheduled for 9 and 14 October. 

Despite his mixed domestic form, the Granada goalkeeper could play a role in ensuring Algeria seal their spot at next year’s tournament.

The second of Zinedine Zidane’s four footballing sons, Luca came through the Real Madrid academy like his brothers. 

He made two senior appearances for Los Blancos before stints in La Liga with Rayo Vallecano and in Spain’s second tier with Eibar. In 2024, he joined Andalusian club Granada, where he currently plies his trade.

However, Luca’s club season has been far from perfect. In six games for Granada so far, he has conceded 11 goals and managed just one clean sheet. Those statistics might worry supporters, yet Petkovic’s faith highlights Algeria’s urgent need for reliable goalkeeping depth.

Luca Zidane’s international switch carries symbolic weight. His father, Zinedine, remains one of football’s greatest icons, famously scoring twice in the 1998 World Cup final as France beat Brazil on home soil. 

The elder Zidane’s legacy, though, also carries the memory of his infamous headbutt on Marco Materazzi during the 2006 World Cup final loss to Italy, his final act as a player.

While Zinedine Zidane lifted France to global glory, Luca now hopes to script his own chapter in Algeria’s history. 

His call-up highlights the enduring bond many Franco-Algerian players feel toward their ancestral homeland, particularly from the Kabylie region where the Zidane family originates.

Algeria currently sit top of Group G in African qualifying, four points clear of their closest challengers. 

A win against either Somalia or Uganda would guarantee their ticket to the 2026 World Cup. 

It would be Algeria’s fifth appearance on football’s biggest stage, and their first since 2014, when they impressed by reaching the round of 16 before bowing out to eventual champions Germany.