DistantNews
Support us
🇮🇩 Indonesia /Sports

Zidane's son Luca makes World Cup headlines for Algeria, sports protective mask

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Algerian goalkeeper Luca Zidane, son of football legend Zinedine Zidane, made headlines at the 2026 World Cup for his performance and distinctive face mask.
  • Zidane, who holds triple citizenship, chose to represent Algeria, his paternal grandparents' home country, after receiving FIFA's approval.
  • The goalkeeper is wearing a specialized mask due to a fractured jaw, chin, and concussion sustained in a late April match.

Algeria's goalkeeper Luca Zidane, son of football icon Zinedine Zidane, has become a focal point at the 2026 World Cup, not just for his goalkeeping skills but also for his striking on-field appearance and his decision to represent Algeria.

Born in France with French and Spanish citizenship, Zidane also holds Algerian heritage through his paternal lineage. He secured FIFA's approval to officially change his national team affiliation in September 2025, choosing to honor his grandparents by playing for Algeria. "We've lived in an Algerian culture since we were small," Zidane told The Athletic. "It's an honor to play for Algeria. 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."

We’ve lived in an Algerian culture since we were small. It’s an honour to play for Algeria. 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.

— Luca ZidaneZidane explained his decision to represent Algeria and the significance of playing in the World Cup.

Zidane's presence on the field is further distinguished by a specialized protective face mask. This gear is a necessity following a severe injury in late April, where he suffered a fractured jaw, fractured chin, and a concussion during a match between his club, Granada, and Almeria. Despite doubts about his readiness for the World Cup, Zidane successfully recovered, reassuring reporters that his surgery went well and he was pain-free five weeks post-operation.

Before the tournament, Zidane proved his capability by keeping a clean sheet against the Netherlands in a preparatory match, making six saves that secured a 1-0 victory for Algeria. He currently plays for Spanish club Granada under a contract running until June 2027.

I’m doing well, I don’t have any pain anymore. The surgery went well and five weeks have passed now.

— Luca ZidaneZidane reassured reporters about his recovery from a facial injury ahead of the World Cup.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog