Zinedine Zidane celebrates his 54th birthday this Tuesday, having been away from professional soccer for five years now since his last stint as Real Madrid manager and enjoying a quieter life surrounded by his loved ones. That includes his wife, who has Spanish roots, their four sons, and three granddaughters.
Since June 11, however, the legendary former French star has crossed the Atlantic with his family to closely follow everything happening at the FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. And he’s doing so with divided loyalties. On one hand, he’s naturally cheering for France. On the other, he’s also become one of Algeria’s biggest fans, since one of his sons is the team’s goalkeeper.
© Getty ImagesZidane with his sons in the United States during the World Cup
© IG: zidaneThis Monday, the French squad led by Kylian Mbappé plays its second match of the tournament against Iraq at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field. France opened its World Cup campaign with a 3–1 victory over Senegal, meaning a win would secure a place in the knockout rounds.
Things look very different for the Desert Foxes, Algeria’s national team, where Luca Zidane plays in goal. After falling to Argentina in their opening match, the North Africans responded with a historic 2-1 win over Jordan, a result that reignited their World Cup hopes and marked a memorable moment for Algerian soccer.
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© FIFA via Getty ImagesZidane’s Close-Knit Family
Véronique Fernández Ramírez is the wife of the legendary soccer player and the woman who has stood by his side through it all. The couple married in Bordeaux in 1994, and she has been his greatest source of support throughout his career.
© WireImageShe followed him wherever his career took the family and later played a crucial role in his decision to retire from playing. She was equally important when Zidane reinvented himself as a coach. Born in Rodez, in southern France, Véronique is the daughter of Antonio Fernández Lentisco and Anita Ramírez Martínez, both originally from Almería, Spain.
© POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesVéronique has always made sure her husband remained the same young man she met when he was 17 and dreaming of making a living playing soccer.
“If fame had ever gone to his head, I would have left a long time ago. Oh no, absolutely not. He knows that. As long as I’m here, there’s no risk of that happening. That’s not how we do things,” she once said in an interview.
© POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesAs for their children, all four followed in their father’s footsteps on the soccer field. Enzo, 31, is the eldest. He has already retired from professional soccer after deciding to focus on his business ventures and, above all, his family. He is married to Venezuelan model Karen Gonçalves, and together they have three daughters: 4-year-old Sia and 2-year-old twins Giulia and Kaia.
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© AFP via Getty ImagesNext is Luca, 28, whose World Cup appearance has already put him in the spotlight. He currently plays for Granada, serving as goalkeeper for the Spanish club. Then comes Theo, 24, a midfielder for Córdoba CF. The youngest, Elyaz, 20, plays for Real Betis’ reserve team.
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© AFP via Getty ImagesZidane poised to take over France after the World Cup
While Zidane has stayed away from coaching since leaving Real Madrid in 2021, his return to the field could be just around the corner. Didier Deschamps remains in charge of France through the 2026 World Cup, but the veteran coach has already confirmed he will step down after the tournament. According to reports from ESPN, L’Équipe, and several French media outlets, Zidane has reached a verbal agreement with the French Football Federation to take over once Les Bleus’ World Cup campaign comes to an end. Although no official announcement has been made, the former midfielder has long been regarded as the natural successor to Deschamps, making his appointment one of soccer’s worst-kept secrets.
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