“He had a very good match, we must not create fitna (discord in Arabic, editor’s note) between the goalkeepers, this is not a question that arises”replied Alexis Guendouz on the premiere of Luca Zidane. After Algeria's validated qualification for the 2026 World Cup in North America, Vladimir Petkovic offered a very first international selection to Zinédine Zidane's second son, by lining him up against Uganda (2-1 victory), in Tizi-Ouzou (in the den of JS Kabylie).
For the moment, Alexis Guendouz remains number 1 ahead of the newcomer, but nothing says that the goalkeeper from Mouloudia Club d'Algiers, born in Saint-Etienne and trained with the Greens, will not soon give up his place to the goalkeeper from the Real Madrid training center. Algeria, led by captain Riyad Mahrez, is now preparing for the 2025 African Cup of Nations with a first match on December 24 in Morocco against Sudan.
However, Luca Zidane, now widely followed by supporters of the Greens (the real nickname of the Fennecs), continues his good performances with Granada in Liga 2.
Luca Zidane, modern goalkeeper
If the 27-year-old did not establish himself in La Liga with Rayo Vallecano in 2021, he is one of the best in his position in the Spanish second division. Last week, he was voted best goalkeeper of the 10th day of the Segunda Division for a match against Andorra (0-0).
In addition to his important saves, Luca Zinédine Zidane (his full name) stands out for his kicking game, as Chebli Ishaq points out from the specialized media DZ Football by posting a video:
“Maybe we have Zinedine Zidane in the squad, who knows? His passing quality is clearly better to certain defenders”. Fans of the Algerian national team and all of French football will follow Petkovic's choice for the goalkeeper position. Alexis Guendouz joined the Algerian eleven thanks to the sidelining of Anthony Mandrea, who did not leave SM Caen, now in National.
