France legend Zidane’s son Luca chooses Algeria over France

FIFA has confirmed that Luca Zidane, the second son of French football legend Zinédine Zidane, has officially changed his sporting nationality to represent Algeria. The announcement was published on Friday through the governing body’s “Change of Association Platform.”

Zidane, 27, was born in Marseille and came through the French youth system, representing Les Bleus from U16 to U20 level.

He was part of the France squad that won the UEFA U17 European Championship in 2015. Despite his early promise, he did not progress to the French U21 side or senior team.

The goalkeeper, who currently plays for Granada in Spain’s La Liga 2, has opted to represent Algeria, the country of origin of his paternal grandparents.

His father, Zinédine, also holds dual French-Algerian nationality, though he went on to achieve legendary status with France as a World Cup and European Championship winner.

The switch opens the door for Luca Zidane to feature at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled for December 21 to January 18 in Morocco. Algeria, under head coach Vladimir Petkovic, are close to sealing qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Zidane began the current season as a starter for Granada but was recently relegated to the bench after recovering from an ankle injury sustained in March.

His decision adds depth to Algeria’s goalkeeping options and comes at a crucial time for the Fennecs as they prepare for continental and global competitions.