Zinedine Zidane’s illustrious career with the French national team was nearly derailed due to his Algerian origins, according to his former coach Alain Lepeu. Lepeu confessed to initially excluding Zidane from selection simply "because he is Algerian." This revelation, shared with BFMTV, highlights a past instance of potential discrimination within French football. Lepeu recounted being challenged about his decision, having to acknowledge Zidane’s French birthright. The incident underscores the challenges faced by players with immigrant backgrounds, even at the highest levels of the sport. Zidane ultimately overcame this early hurdle to become a global icon and lead France to World Cup glory in 1998. The story serves as a stark reminder of the prejudices that can exist within sports organizations.