Luca Zidane, the 27-year-old goalkeeper and son of French football legend Zinedine Zidane, has officially switched his sporting nationality from France to Algeria.
The change, confirmed by FIFA on 19 September 2025, makes him eligible to represent the Algerian national team, opening up possibilities for both him and the Fennecs in the coming international fixtures.
Born in Aix-en-Provence, France, on 13 May 1998, Luca has always carried a mixed heritage. His paternal grandparents hail from the Kabylie region of Algeria, while his mother is of Spanish descent. He holds both French and Algerian nationality.
Luca Zidane came through the Real Madrid youth academy, joining when he was very young, and worked his way through the ranks to play for Castilla and even made his first-team debut in La Liga.
After loan spells and transfers, he has played for Racing Santander, Rayo Vallecano, Eibar, and currently for Granada in Spain’s Segunda División.
Despite early promise and regular involvement with France at youth levels — including under-16, under-17, under-18, under-19 and an appearance for the France U20 side in 2018 — Luca never made a senior team appearance for Les Bleus. His youth achievements include winning the UEFA European Under-17 Championship with France in 2015.
The formal change of sporting nationality was approved by FIFA’s Players’ Status Chamber via their Change of Association platform. This legal and administrative step means Luca Zidane is now eligible for selection by the Algerian national team in all competitions.
For Algeria, this is timely, as the country has been seeking greater depth in goal. Over recent matches, the Fennecs have employed several goalkeepers. Names such as Alexis Guendouz, Oussama Benbot, Anthony Mandrea and Alexandre Oukidja have appeared in recent line-ups, but consistency in the position has been elusive.
The addition of Luca Zidane offers a candidate with experience in one of Europe’s competitive environments. Granada, his club, may not be among the elite of La Liga, but regular play in Spain’s second tier has longstanding value.
According to local Algerian media, Luca is expected to be called up to the national squad in upcoming international windows, potentially as early as November for friendly matches. The president of the Algerian Football Federation, Walid Sadi, is reported to have played a role in persuading Zidane to make the decision, ending any lingering speculation.
While the formal statement from Luca himself has been less elaborate, his request to FIFA confirms his intent. Under the regulations, a player who has only played for youth levels may change his representation for senior football, provided he meets certain criteria, including eligibility through heritage — which Luca does via his father’s Algerian roots.