Luca is eligible to represent the African nation through Zinedine Zidane’s Algerian lineage. He requested FIFA to allow him to change his sporting nationality from France to Algeria and it was approved only two weeks ago. Now, the 27-year-old goalkeeper has been called up to the 26-member Algeria squad, picked by manager Vladimir Petkovic, which will face Somalia and Uganda in World Cup qualifiers next week.
Algeria are currently four points clear at the top of their qualifying group and will need just one win out of their next two qualifiers to book their berth in the 2026 World Cup that will be held in North America next summer. Luca, as a result, has the golden opportunity of playing in the World Cup for the first time in his career.
After graduating from Real Madrid‘s youth system, Luca made his debut for Los Blancos in 2017 under his father’s coaching and spent three years at the Spanish capital. He was part of the squad that won the Champions League that year. The 27-year-old currently plays for Granada in the Segunda Division.
Zidane has been without a club since leaving Real Madrid for the second time in 2021. He has been linked with a move to Manchester United amid Ruben Amorim’s struggles at Old Trafford, however, the France legend is tipped to replace Didier Deschamps as the next Les Bleus manager after the 2026 World Cup.
