Algeria Seeks to Convince Ethan Mbappé to Join National Team

Rabat – The Algerian Football Federation has opened talks to persuade Ethan Mbappé, the younger brother of French star Kylian Mbappé, to represent Algeria at the international level.

Officials recently contacted his mother, Fayza Lamari, who also manages his career, to discuss the possibility.

This move follows a similar case last month when Luca Zidane, son of Zinedine Zidane, obtained dual nationality and made his debut for Algeria.

Morocco has been at the forefront of this approach, convincing several high‑profile names to commit to its team as it builds toward the next World Cup.

Algeria wants to adopt a similar strategy, increasing its efforts to recruit new talent after securing qualification for the tournament.

Ethan could be the next high-profile player targeted by the federation, which has already sounded out his interest in joining the squad.

According to reports from Phenix Football, discussions with Lamari focused on evaluating Ethan’s chances of playing for Algeria at the next World Cup.

The 19-year-old currently plays for Lille in France and holds three nationalities: French, Algerian through his mother, and Cameroonian through his father, Wilfried Mbappé.

Ethan has shown promise this season, scoring two goals for Lille, including one against Paris Saint-Germain.

His performances have attracted attention, but the idea of calling him up has sparked debate.

Critics argue that the Algerian FA and coach Vladimir Petković are focusing too much on recruiting dual-nationality players who have not yet played for another national team. This policy often comes at the expense of developing local talent inside Algeria.

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