Overview
- Luca Zidane made his ninth appearance for Algeria in the Group J game on June 22 and is Algeria’s starting goalkeeper at the 2026 World Cup.
- He completed a FIFA-approved switch from France to Algeria in 2025 and says the choice was rooted in his family’s Algerian culture and had his father’s support.
- Zidane developed in Real Madrid’s academy, had a series of loans in Spain, and established himself at Granada this season with 27 first-team appearances.
- He fractured his chin and jaw in an April collision for Granada, underwent surgery, and returned to play wearing a protective facial mask.
- Coverage has shifted from match results to questions about his medical return and player safety after his tough start that included conceding Lionel Messi’s World Cup hat-trick, a development that could affect his club prospects and public scrutiny.