RABAT, Morocco – For decades, the name “Zidane” was synonymous with the blue of France. But this month, at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, the legend has taken on a different shade. Luca Zidane, the 27-year-old son of the great Zinedine, officially arrived on the big stage—not as a Frenchman, but as the new number one for Algeria.
In a move that has captured the imagination of football fans across the continent, Luca recently kept a clean sheet in his AFCON debut, a commanding 3-0 victory over Sudan. He went on to post another clean sheet in their 1-0 win against Burkina Faso.
Watching from the stands in Morocco is his father, Zinedine Zidane, who looks on with visible pride as his son dons the colors of their ancestral homeland.
The Decision: Ancestry Over Allegiance
Why isn’t Luca playing for the 2018 World Champions? The choice was deeply personal. Having represented France at the junior level, Luca remained eligible for the “Desert Foxes” through his paternal grandparents. In September 2025, he officially made the “sporting nationality” switch.
“When I think of Algeria, I think of my grandfather,” Luca told reporters after his debut. “There has always been a strong Algerian culture in our family. My grandfather was very emotional when I told him I was coming home to play for the national team.”
Stepping Out of the Shadow
By choosing to be a goalkeeper, Luca already distanced himself from the midfield comparisons to his father. By choosing Algeria, he has stepped out of the French spotlight entirely to build his own legacy.
Algeria’s head coach, Vladimir Petković, was full of praise after the opening match: “Zidane gave the team real security. He is calm under pressure and excellent with his feet.
He isn’t here because of his name; he is here because he is a top-class goalkeeper.”
The “Zidane” Verdict
While his brothers Theo and Elyaz remain within the French youth systems, Luca’s success in Morocco has sparked a massive debate about the future of the Zidane dynasty. For now, the “Zidane” on everyone’s lips at AFCON 2025 is the one between the sticks for Algeria, carrying the hopes of a nation into the knockout rounds.
