Zineddine Belaid #5

Profile

A reliable, if unspectacular, centre-back. Belaid’s greatest achievement came in 2023 when he captained USM Alger to a CAF Confederation Cup title. A brief stint in Belgium with Sint-Truiden followed, before a big-money return to Algeria’s most decorated club, JS Kabylie last year. Belaid is unlikely to start matches, but he is capable of slotting into defence when Algeria need to protect a lead, particularly against aerial threats. At the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations he made three appearances and scored a headed goal from a corner against Equatorial Guinea, which he then dedicated to his late father, writing online: "My first goal with the national team, on Africa's biggest stage. I felt your presence with me, dad. This goal is dedicated to you, to my family, to the coaching staff who believed in me, and to the wonderful Algerian supporters.”

Key stats