Elyaz, the son of Zinédine Zidane, spoke to Le Parisien about his international prospects. He has the option to choose between France, which he represented at youth levels, Algeria, his father's homeland, and Spain, where his mother is from.
At 20 years old, the central defender for Red Star (French Ligue 2) remains undecided. He prefers to keep all options open, including the possibility of representing Algeria. However, he will need to reach a sufficient level to be selected for any of these teams, where competition is fierce.
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Elyaz Zidane, a promising youth career
Elyaz Zidane, standing at 1.96m, has had an impressive journey through youth teams. Trained at Real Madrid, he has regularly been called up for the French national teams (U17, U18, U19, and U20).
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He notably won the U17 European Championship and reached the final of the same competition with the U19s. At the club level, he played for Real Betis (2024-2026) and has been with Red Star since last July.
At 20, having yet to make his debut with the senior French team, the player has the option to change his sporting nationality. He can theoretically choose between France, Spain, or Algeria.
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“At 20, anything is possible”
In an interview with Le Parisien, he was measured, keeping all possibilities open.
“Growing up in this environment and witnessing great finals with my father, one aspires to feel those emotions. At 20, anything is possible,” he said to Le Parisien. The son of the current coach of the French national team stated that his main goal for now is to establish himself with his club.
“I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself, and I prefer to focus on the pitch. My only current objective is to give my best for Red Star, to improve, and to help my team win. The rest is still to be written,” added Elyaz Zidane.
It is true that currently, the player, competing in a French division club, has little chance of being selected for the Greens, let alone for La Roja or Les Bleus. But at just 20 years old, the future is full of possibilities.
“It’s a pride to witness my brother’s first World Cup”
His brother Luca was selected for the Algerian national team in 2025 while playing in the Spanish second division, but that was a rare exception. The Greens' staff lacked options for the goalkeeper position.
Last summer, the entire Zidane family, including Elyaz, traveled to the United States to support Luca and Algeria in the World Cup.
“Fortunately, it coincided with the holidays, which allowed us to go as a family. It was a true pride to witness my brother’s first World Cup. I thoroughly enjoyed accompanying and supporting him. It will remain a memorable memory,” said Elyaz Zidane.
