Paris FC midfielder Maxime Lopez opens the door to Algeria

Paris FC midfielder Maxime Lopez has opened the door to representing Algeria. The 27-year-old player was born in France but has not yet received a senior call-up from his country of birth.

Lopez spoke publicly for the first time about his international ambitions, stating that he wants to represent Algeria. Speaking on Canal+’s program Détective Mathoux, Lopez said he would be proud to play for Les Fennecs:

“Of course, if I am ever called up to the Algerian national team, I will go. My mother is Algerian.”

The former Olympique de Marseille midfielder added that some fans might call him an opportunist since Algeria has secured qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Maxime Lopez Eyes Algeria Call-Up After Waiting on France

“People will say, ‘Yeah, he’s an opportunist; there’s the AFCON and the World Cup.’ I think that even in a season without the AFCON or the World Cup, if they had called me up, I would have gone. I’m a competitor, and I want to play for the national team too.”

Lopez has made 12 appearances for the newly promoted Ligue 1 side this season, providing three assists. Recently, Luca Zidane, son of French football legend Zinedine Zidane, also chose to represent Algeria. Before him, Amine Gouiri made the same decision to play for the North African nation.