One of the most iconic names in football history is set to have a representative at the 2026 World Cup this summer.

The player in question carved out a professional career very much in his own right, spending his career to date in Spain and putting in work that has earned him international recognition. But it’s his surname, and the man who made it famous, that inevitably draws the attention. This summer, he will have the opportunity to step out of a massive shadow on the biggest stage football has to offer.

What makes his inclusion particularly notable, however, is not simply who he is. It’s how he’s been selected, with his squad inclusion raising more than a few eyebrows.

Zinedine Zidane’s Son Named in World Cup Squad, as One of Four Goalkeepers

As reported by TalkSport, Luca Zidane, son of French football legend and 1998 World Cup winner Zinedine Zidane, has been named in Algeria’s 26-man squad for the World Cup by head coach Vladimir Petkovic. The 28-year-old goalkeeper, who plays for LaLiga 2 side Granada, has been selected as one of four goalkeepers in the squad, an unusual decision given that the vast majority of nations travel to a World Cup with no more than three.

Zidane represented France at under-16 level, up to the under-20s, but never earned a senior cap for Les Bleus. He’s been capped six times for Algeria at senior level, qualifying through his Algerian descent. His appearances include matches at the African Cup of Nations earlier this year, where he was involved in a mass brawl during Algeria’s 2-0 defeat to Nigeria. His club form has been rather solid, with 26 appearances in La Liga 2 this season, keeping eight clean sheets.

He’ll be joined in the squad by some considerably higher-profile names, including Manchester City defender Rayan Ait-Nouri and former Tottenham midfielder Nabil Bentaleb, while Riyad Mahrez, now at Al Ahli following his departure from City, leads the attacking options.

Algeria’s Prospects, and Their Path Through the World Cup

Algeria and Zidane arrive at the tournament in decent form, having navigated CAF qualification impressively, winning eight of their ten matches and finishing seven points clear of Uganda to progress automatically.

Their group stage draw is a stern one, however. Reigning world champions Argentina await in Group J on the 17th of June, before fixtures against Jordan and Austria. It’s a group that demands Algeria hit the ground running if they are to progress, but should they finish second, a potential last-16 tie against England in Arlington, Texas on the 6th of July could be on the cards, assuming England come through their own group as runners-up and both sides navigate their last-32 ties.

For Luca Zidane, the World Cup represents a chance to write his own chapter and step out of the enormous shadow of his father. The name on the back of his shirt will always invite comparison, but what happens on the pitch this summer is entirely up to him.

Manchester United want to add more firepower to their squad this summer, and they are ready to make a move for Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, according to CaughtOffside.

Man United were the third-highest scorers in the Premier League this season, only scoring two fewer than champions Arsenal, but it appears as though club chiefs want to further boost the frontline next season, especially with the return of Champions League football to Old Trafford.

Much of the talk in recent weeks has been around the new midfielders the Red Devils could add to their squad, with up to three new faces expected to arrive in that position should Manuel Ugarte follow Casemiro through the exit door.

Fabrizio Romano has revealed that only something ‘crazy’ will stop United completing a deal to sign Atalanta midfielder Ederson, while they continue to be linked with a host of other midfielders as they look to complete a major rebuild.

Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson is their top target, but a deal is unlikely because of Forest’s transfer fee demands and the fact that the player’s preference would be to join Manchester City instead.

Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni, Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali and West Ham United’s Mateus Fernandes are among their other targets.

Man United Make Dusan Vlahovic Big-Name Target

According to CaughtOffside, United are also ready to complete a ‘major attacking rebuild’ this summer, and they have five strikers on their radar ahead of the transfer window opening on June 15.

While Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen is the ‘dream’ target, they have also identified Juventus centre-forward Dusan Vlahovic as another big-name player on their shortlist.

Benjamin Sesko is currently leading the line at Old Trafford with the likes of Bryan Mbeumo playing back-up, but the club are said to want stronger depth and different profiles alongside the impressive Slovenian.

United are likely to look to replace Joshua Zirkzee in the squad, with the Netherlands international being linked with a move back to Serie A.

Dusan Vlahovic Faces Uncertain Summer

With his contract due to expire at the end of next month, Vlahovic is about to be one of the hottest free agents on the market.

CaughtOffside claim that should his exit from Juventus be confirmed in the coming weeks, then United won’t be alone in their pursuit of the Serbia international.

Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich are also keen on the 26-year-old, who has scored 68 goals in 168 matches for Juve since joining them in 2022.

One of the potential hurdles to any deal for the big striker is his salary, with Vlahovic currently earning around £400,000-a-week at the Allianz Stadium.

He will need to reduce that wage significantly if he wants to secure a move to most clubs in Europe, including United, who are looking to offload more high earners this summer following the departure of Casemiro, with Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford also on huge wages at Old Trafford.

It was the greatest week in Arsenal’s recent history, and one of the most painful at the same time.

Six days after ending a 22-year wait to lift the Premier League trophy once more, the Gunners were in Budapest for the Champions League final, leading Paris Saint Germain through Kai Havertz’s early opener.

Arsenal led for almost an hour before Ousmane Dembele’s penalty brought things level. The German’s opener turned out to be Arsenal’s only shot on target of the entire match, which went the distance before Gabriel’s missed penalty ensured the Champions League title went back to Paris.

For all the hurt of that night, however, Arteta is already turning his attention to the transfer window, and one performance in particular appears to have accelerated his thinking in the market.

Viktor Gyokeres’ Champions League Final Was One to Forget

Viktor Gyokeres finished the 2025/26 season as Arsenal’s top scorer with 21 goals, and nobody can take that away from him. But goals alone don’t tell the whole story, and his display in Budapest after coming on for Martin Odegaard in the 66th minute, as a direct response to PSG’s equaliser, was deeply underwhelming.

The numbers, via SofaScore, make for uncomfortable reading. In his 54 minutes on the pitch, Gyokeres had 20 touches and lost the ball ten times – meaning he lost the ball every second touch. He also completed just six of his 12 passes and won only four of his 12 duels.

What Arsenal desperately needed in that final half an hour, and throughout extra time, was a striker capable of holding the ball up under pressure and relieving the siege PSG were laying on.

He provided almost none of that.

A deflected effort that fizzed wide late in extra-time was the extent of his attacking contribution. He did convert his penalty in the shoot-out, but by that point, the damage had already been done.

Bournemouth’s Kroupi Emerges as Target to Replace Viktor Gyokeres

According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, who was speaking soon after the final whistle, Arsenal are understood to be exploring alternatives in the striker position.

One name attracting serious attention is Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Kroupi. The young forward has already been linked and represents a very different profile to Gyokeres. He’s more technical, more comfortable in tight spaces, and better suited to the kind of intricate, possession-based football Arteta demands from his squad. At only 19-years-old, described as a ‘killer’, he scored just one less goal than the Swede in last season’s Premier League (13).

Gyokeres’ goals were crucial in delivering the title. But if Kroupi is indeed the man Arsenal are targeting, it suggests the club believe there’s a more complete option out there, one who can contribute when the goals aren’t flowing as well, and when the game needs winning in a different way.