Luca Zidane (right) has been slamed for choosing Algeria over France. Photo: Imago

Zinedine Zidane’s son Luca has received criticism following his move to play for Algeria and not his country of birth France which his father led to great success.

Luca Zidane, the son of legendary French footballer Zinedine Zidane, has been heavily criticised over his decision to choose to play for Algeria over France.

Luca, who is a goalkeeper for Spanish side Granada, opted to switch allegiance from France to Algeria, the country where his father draws his roots, as his parents emigrated from the North African nation to France.

The 27-year-old was given the greenlight by FIFA and he is now eligible for an Algerian call-up at a time when the Desert Foxes are one win away from qualifying for the 2026 World Cup while they will be among the teams at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco in December.

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Luca is the latest in a long list of French-born players who chose to represent Algeria with some big names such as Islam Slimani and Riyad Mahrez among those who went that route.

However, French journalist Bertrand Latour says Luca’s decision leaves a bitter taste in the mouth for the French given the stature of his father, who represented France with distinction, leading them to the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, while captaining the side for many years.

“As a Frenchman, I don’t like it when Zinedine Zidane’s son wears another national team’s jersey, given his father’s stature and what he represents for France,” he said on Canal+ as quoted by South African outlet Soccer Laduma. “But everyone has the freedom to act. And if you’re Algerian, you either choose the right time or it’s too late.”

“This disgusts me. Luca Zidane may be present during the next international break in October with Algeria. The Algerian team only needs to win against Somalia or Uganda to qualify for World Cup coming soon. And before that, it will be African Cup of Nations, a clear target for the Desert Warriors,” he added.

With Algeria facing Somalia and then Uganda in the October international window, when a win against one of them will see them return to the World Cup, Luca could be in line for a place at the 2026 tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada and this does not sit well with Latour.

He wonders how Luca has suddenly found love for Algeria at 27, having represented France at all junior levels, and feels it could be just an opportunist decision to feature at major tournaments.

“Recently, I’ve heard comments from players who quickly chose Algeria. I’m thinking of Slimani and Mahrez. They are tired of players choosing to play for Algeria or any other country, while their only concern is playing in a major tournament, without any love for their national team jersey or their homeland,” he said.

“For me, what disgusts me is the opportunism. The problem lies in his style. He discovered he was Algerian at the age of 27?”

Born in Marseille, France, Luca is the second-born son of Zidane and has played for France at U16, U17, U18, U19 and U20 level but is yet to earn a call-up to the senior national team Les Bleus.