Luca Zidane Set for Algeria World Cup Debut Against Argentina

Luca Zidane chose last autumn to represent Algeria, and that decision now puts him on a World Cup stage against Argentina. The Granada goalkeeper made his international debut in October and has already gone on to play at the Africa Cup of Nations, moving from a second-division club role to a global tournament setting.

Luca Zidane and Algeria

Zidane was born in France and has lived most of his life in Spain, but his paternal grandparents were born in Algeria, and he said, "We’ve lived in an Algerian culture since we were small". He also called it "an honour to play for Algeria," a choice that he said came after speaking with his family, his parents, his brothers and his grandfather.

"The final decision was mine, but I spoke with my family, my parents, my brothers, my grandfather," he said. His father, Zinedine Zidane, was happy with the move because, as Luca put it, "he knew it was something I wanted to do."

Granada to World Cup

The step is notable because Zidane is doing it while playing club football for Granada in Spain's second division, not at one of Europe’s biggest clubs. He said, "To be able to play in a World Cup is a dream for any kid," and that dream now carries him into a match against Argentina on Tuesday in Kansas City at 8pm CT, which is 2am on Wednesday in the UK.

Argentina arrive as the defending World Cup champions, and Zidane addressed the matchup with little hesitation. "Messi is one of the greatest players in history," he said, before adding, "But Algeria is a big football nation."

Algeria vs Argentina

Algeria already took Zidane through the Africa Cup of Nations after his October debut, with the team losing to Nigeria in the quarter-finals on January 10. That sequence leaves him with an immediate test on the biggest stage: a World Cup appearance for Algeria after growing up in the orbit of a famous football family, training at Real Madrid's Valdebebas academy as a child, and spending the 2016-17 season with Real Madrid Castilla.

He played eight games for Castilla alongside his older brother Enzo in 2016-17, and the family context has been part of his career from the start. Zidane said of the family name, "What happened happened. Football is like that."

Against Argentina, he framed Algeria as more than a backdrop to Messi. "We can surprise people," he said, adding, "And we have our own threats: (Riyad) Mahrez is a great player too."