From a child in Berlin watching Zinedine Zidane’s dramatic 2006 final to a goalkeeper now set to play for Algeria, Luca Zidane is chasing his own place in football’s biggest moment. Born in France, raised largely in Spain, and shaped by a family that kept stro
He was eight years old when the stadium went quiet and then shattered into chaos.
At Berlin’s Olympic Stadium during the 2006 World Cup final. Luca Zidane watched from the stands as his father. Zinedine Zidane. gave France the lead with an audacious early Panenka penalty—and then was sent off in extra time for headbutting Italy defender Marco Materazzi. When the trophy slipped away for France in the penalty shootout, Luca was distraught.
Two decades later, the child who once brushed off the match with “What happened happened. Football is like that.” is preparing to play in a World Cup himself.
Luca Zidane, 28, is set to be Algeria’s goalkeeper’s last line of defence against Lionel Messi and defending World Cup champions Argentina. The match is scheduled for Tuesday in Kansas City (8pm CT, 2am on Wednesday in the UK).
Born in France and having lived most of his life in Spain. he chose last autumn to represent Algeria—an identity he says is rooted in the family’s everyday life. His paternal grandparents were born in Algeria. and Luca describes an upbringing shaped by “an Algerian culture since we were small. ” with his move driven by a decision that was ultimately his. “It’s an honour to play for Algeria,” he said. “The final decision was mine, but I spoke with my family, my parents, my brothers, my grandfather. My father was happy, he knew it was something I wanted to do. To be able to play in a World Cup is a dream for any kid.”.
In the months since, his rise has come with the pressure of timing and visibility—especially for someone who carries a name that never stays out of the spotlight.
He made his international debut in October, then played at the Africa Cup of Nations. Algeria reached the last eight, before losing in the quarter-finals to Nigeria on January 10. Luca’s role during the tournament was defined by endurance and precision: he set a tournament record of 390 minutes without conceding a goal. “It was a really good tournament, although we’d have liked to go further,” he said. “Putting on the jersey and listening to the anthem, it makes me really emotional—and all my family too.”.
After full-time in the 2-0 quarter-final defeat by Nigeria, the match ended with a large-scale melee in which Luca was prominently involved. He has since received a two-game ban, to be served in Algeria’s qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which begin in September.
Asked about the brawl, he kept it simple: “These things happen in football, and they stay on the pitch. You don’t have to worry too much about them. Now we have to get ready for the World Cup.”
Even before Algeria’s World Cup opening. his international story had already been marked by a clear shift: Algeria gave him the shot-stopping role. but his value also included his playmaking from the back—something national team coach Vladimir Petkovic favoured during the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
That partnership has carried into his current moment. Luca has now made seven appearances for Algeria.
His World Cup challenge is immediate. Against Argentina, the stakes are not theoretical—Messi is on one side, champions on the other. Luca acknowledges the reality of the opponent while insisting Algeria can still disrupt the script. “Messi is one of the greatest players in history,” he said. “But Algeria is a big football nation. We can surprise people. And we have our own threats: (Riyad) Mahrez is a great player too.”.
Mahrez. who scored eight goals and provided 15 assists for Saudi Arabian club Al Ahli last term. is part of a blend of experience and youth in Algeria’s squad. The younger edge includes 20-year-old Bayer Leverkusen playmaker Ibrahim Maza. Alongside him are Milan midfielder Ismael Bennacer, 28; Borussia Dortmund defender Ramy Bensebaini, 31; and Mahrez at 35-year-old.
Luca’s own path to the tournament has been built across clubs and leagues in Spain, where he has spent years working his way into the kind of rhythm that goalkeepers need—responsibility every week, not just when the spotlight turns.
The Zidane family home has been in Madrid since 2001, the year Zinedine became a Bernabeu galactico when signing from Juventus. All four children—Enzo (born in 1995), Luca (1998), Theo (2002) and Elyaz (2005)—followed their father’s footsteps through Real Madrid training at Valdebebas.
From a young age, Luca says their routine was both disciplined and chaotic in the way families can be. “Ever since we were very small we’d all go to (Real Madrid’s) Valdebebas (academy) to train,” he said. “We’d also play the whole day at home: two against two in the garden. There’d be some rows too, we’re all competitive. My mum used to get a bit tired of it, but they’re really good memories.”.
His own progression started inside Madrid’s youth ranks. He was first choice as the under-18 team reached the semi-finals of the 2015-16 UEFA Youth League. When his father was Madrid’s head coach. Luca was often called to train with the senior side alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. Luka Modric and Karim Benzema.
Luca describes the boundary between father and coach with a bluntness that sounds like a rule made early. “At home he’s your father, but when you go to Valdebebas he’s just the coach,” he said. “He could be a bit harder on you than on the other players, but it didn’t bother me. At that age. whoever is your coach. you have to work hard every day to get to the highest level possible.”.
He gained more experience playing for reserve team Real Madrid Castilla on Spain’s third tier, alongside Federico Valverde and Vinicius Junior. During 2016-17, he played eight games for Castilla with his older brother Enzo more regularly present in midfield.
By 2017-18, the medals still came—even if the minutes were limited. With Keylor Navas the first choice for the seniors, Luca picked up winners’ medals as an unused Real Madrid substitute in the 2017-18 UEFA Super Cup and Supercopa de Espana.
After just two La Liga appearances for the first team. he joined second division side Racing Santander on loan in summer 2019. He credits that move with keeping his focus on one thing: playing. “Navas was there, Kiko Casilla and then (Thibaut) Courtois was signed,” he said. “I went to Racing to play every week, which is the most important thing.”.
At Racing and later, his identity on the back of his jersey mattered. With his club jersey saying “Luca” rather than “Zidane. ” he then signed for Rayo Vallecano. helping them get promoted to La Liga in 2020-21 under recently appointed Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola. In 2022 he left for Eibar, before joining Granada for €500,000 in July 2024.
He says he feels at home in Granada, with its Moorish cultural legacy including the Alhambra palace. Two brothers also live in Andalusia: Theo. 24. played regularly in midfield for Cordoba in the same division as Granada last season. and Elyaz. 20. continued his development with (Seville-based) Real Betis’ youth team in the third tier.
At Granada. Luca has fought hard to establish himself as a starter over two seasons. even while accepting the cruelty of football attention. “Over two seasons at Granada. Zidane has fought hard to establish himself as a starter. although he accepts that no matter how many saves he makes. any mistakes will always make headlines. especially given his name. ” he said.
One moment—coming in June last year during a key promotion battle against Racing Santander—stuck: he gave away a cheap goal with a poor clearance.
“When you’re called Zidane, everything you do has more of an impact,” he said. “People are waiting for something bad to happen, so they can talk about it. But I’ve had to deal with it since I was small, so it’s natural for me. I’m always trying to improve every day, to be as good a goalkeeper as I can be.”.
His connection to Algeria, meanwhile, never stayed on paper. Wherever the family had lived. Luca says they kept a tight connection to Marseille. where Zinedine’s parents Smail and Malika arrived from Algeria in the 1960s. “In Marseille, we eat Algerian food, speak the language,” Luca said. “My grandfather taught my father Algerian values, and my father taught them to us. Above all, to respect people, to work hard, that nobody gives you anything for free. Also to be serious, and to be ambitious, which is important.”.
That mix of identities—French-born, Spanish-raised, Algerian-rooted—has also played out across his siblings’ careers. Luca won an Under-17 European Championship with France in 2015, saving three penalties in the semi-final shootout win over Belgium. Enzo won underage international caps for both Spain and France. Theo played an Under-17 Euros for France in 2019. Elyaz made his Spain under-20 debut in September 2025.
For Luca. the point is not sorting nationalities into boxes. but keeping them as part of how the family understands itself. “To play a European Championship, and win it, was a lovely experience,” he said. “Someone can have two nationalities, or sometimes even three. I’m proud of my countries, and my brothers are too. We have the good fortune to have various cultures.”.
In late April, his club season ended with a serious injury: he fractured both his jaw and chin playing for Granada against Almeria. He returned to action on June 3 wearing a protective mask, keeping another clean sheet in Algeria’s impressive 1-0 friendly win against the Netherlands.
Under Petkovic, Algeria’s run has been strong. Over 28 games, they recorded 21 wins, four draws and three defeats.
That record is already being weighed against a familiar African benchmark: Morocco’s achievement of making the World Cup semi-finals at Qatar 2022. Luca doesn’t dodge the question. “I’m convinced African sides will have a big role in this World Cup,” he said. “Algeria have a really good team, very united, with lots of young talents. We will surprise a lot of people.”.
Algeria’s group also includes Jordan and Austria, with the World Cup being an opportunity Luca clearly understands as both personal and national.
His contract situation adds pressure to the horizon: his Granada deal ends in June 2027, and his future remains uncertain.
When he talks about the moment in front of him, the emotional weight comes through in the way he frames it—less about destiny, more about proving that he can stand on his own.
“At the start, people see you more as someone’s son,” he said. “But I’ve always tried to make my own path. I worked hard to improve every day.”
For Luca Zidane, the World Cup is a test of everything he’s built since the day a penalty shootout ended in tears at Berlin—something to carry forward without being trapped by the shadow behind him.
“This is a crucial moment for my career, playing a World Cup, to show I can play at the very highest level,” he said. “I feel ready for that.”
Luca Zidane Algeria World Cup Argentina Lionel Messi Zinedine Zidane goalkeeper Vladimir Petkovic Africa Cup of Nations Granada Mahrez Ibrahim Maza