"It's an honour to play for Algeria. To be able to play in a World Cup is a dream for any kid." That's Luca Zidane — son of Zinedine, goalkeeper for Algeria, and suddenly one of the more compelling stories at the 2026 World Cup.
Yes, that Zidane. Born May 13, 1998, Luca came up through Real Madrid's youth system before spending years drifting through the lower tiers of Spanish football — Rayo Vallecano, Eibar, and now Granada, where he's contracted through June 2027. Not exactly a gilded path, but he's made it count at the right moment.
Why Algeria, not France or Spain?
Luca holds triple citizenship: French by birth (he was born in Aix-en-Provence), Spanish through his mother, and Algerian through his father's lineage. France never gave him a senior cap. Spain didn't either. Algeria did — and in September 2025, FIFA formally approved his federation switch.
This wasn't purely a strategic move to find a route to a World Cup, though the timing is convenient. Luca has spoken openly about growing up immersed in Algerian culture, and says the decision came after conversations with his family — including Zinedine himself, who was apparently on board. "My father was happy, he knew it was something I wanted to do," he told The Athletic.
He's backed it up on the pitch. Against the Netherlands in Algeria's pre-tournament build-up, he made six saves and kept a clean sheet in a 1-0 win. Algeria's clean sheet odds against stronger opposition just got a more credible foundation with Zidane between the sticks.
The mask isn't a fashion choice
The protective face mask Luca is wearing at this tournament has a grimmer backstory. In late April, during a Granada match against Almeria, he suffered a fractured jaw, a fractured chin, and a severe concussion after an aerial collision. There were genuine doubts he'd make it to the World Cup at all.
He did. "I don't have any pain anymore. The surgery went well and five weeks have passed now. I returned to training on the pitch two weeks ago and I'm very happy," he told reporters ahead of the tournament.
The mask stays on for now — a visible reminder of how close this whole chapter nearly didn't happen.
