Algeria, Portugal: Mezian Mesloub has made his decision!

Oct 12, 2026

RC Lens' young prospect, Mezian Mesloub, is already attracting attention from several national teams despite being just 16 years old. While Algeria hoped to secure this promising talent, a family statement has shed light on his international future and the reasons behind his decision.

Mezian Mesloub has reportedly opted for Portugal. Drawn by three selections, with France and Algeria among his choices, the young RC Lens player has favored the country of his ancestors. His grandfather shared this direction with the Portuguese media Zerozero, specifying that the young Lensois made his choice without any hesitation.

“He has three options in football (Portugal, France, Algeria) and, to be honest, he didn’t hesitate: he chose the Portuguese team and is thus following in his family's footsteps,” he stated.

A decision influenced by family origins

Mesloub's grandfather's testimony leaves little doubt about the emotional aspect of this decision. Being Portuguese himself, he expressed pride in his grandson's progress while wishing to see him advance to the senior national team. “I would love to see him play with the Portugal A national team,” he added.

The emotion is also palpable when he recalls his grandson's early experiences in the Portuguese colors. “I get chills every time I see him wear the Portugal jersey. It’s a feeling I can’t really describe, something that touches me deeply,” he declared.

His choice in favor of Portugal represents a potential disappointment for Algeria, which hoped to convince the young Lensois to join the Greens. His sporting journey and upcoming international steps will now allow for an assessment of the impact of this choice.

̂ '́ !

It was the grandfather of the young Lensois (16 years old) who announced it to @zerozeropt:

“He has three options in football (Portugal - France - Algeria) and, to be honest, he didn’t hesitate: he chose the Portuguese selection and is thus following in his family's footsteps. I would really like to see him play with the Portugal A national team.

There’s a lot of talk about him right now, and it’s a great pride for me to see the journey he is making. As a Portuguese, I am very proud to see this 16-year-old achieve everything he is doing.

I get chills every time I see him wearing the Portugal jersey. It’s a feeling I can’t put into words, something that touches me deep in my heart.”

— Instant Foot ⚽️ (@lnstantFoot) October 12, 2026

DZfoot