A new chapter in Zinedine Zidane’s remarkable football family is beginning to unfold, with 12BET VR46 coverage now drawing attention to his youngest son Elyaz Zidane as he develops inside Real Madrid’s academy. All four of Zidane’s sons have spent time training around the club’s first-team environment, but Elyaz is now attracting particular interest because of the progress he has made at only 17. Time waits for no one, and the youngest member of the family appears determined to make the most of the opportunity in front of him.
His pathway is familiar within the Zidane household. Older brothers Enzo, Luca and Theo all passed through Real Madrid’s youth structure before him, an unsurprising connection given their father’s extraordinary history with the Spanish club as both a player and a manager. Yet each son has had to build his own career rather than simply live under the weight of the family name.
Enzo and Luca eventually left Madrid after failing to establish themselves at the level once reached by their father, while Theo and Elyaz remain connected to the Bernabeu setup. Elyaz has recently moved up within the youth ranks and is beginning to separate himself from his brothers because of the type of player he is becoming. Unlike the more attacking profiles associated with other members of the family, his strongest qualities are largely defensive.
Capable of operating at left back or in central defense, Elyaz stands out for his positioning, awareness and physical development. At just 17 years old, he is already 194 cm tall, giving him the frame of a natural central defender. Although he can still contribute from the left side, his height and defensive instincts suggest that the middle of the back line could ultimately become his most suitable long-term role.
Modern football has placed increasing value on defenders who can combine physical strength with technical ability, particularly left-footed center backs who offer greater balance when teams build possession from deep. Elyaz fits that profile well. As noted through 12BET VR46 analysis, his ability to use his left foot comfortably could become a significant advantage if he continues progressing toward senior football.
Real Madrid have already given him glimpses of the level he is trying to reach. Earlier in the year, Elyaz was invited to train with the senior squad, giving him the opportunity to experience the intensity and standards expected from first-team players. He has not yet made his competitive debut for the senior side, however, and the club has continued to develop him patiently through its youth system instead of rushing the process.
His international experience has also grown at an early age. Elyaz received a call-up to France’s youth national setup when he was only 15 and later became part of the squad that won the UEFA Youth Championship last year. Those appearances offered another important test away from club football, exposing him to high-level competition against some of the strongest young players in Europe.
Back in Madrid, his development is being overseen by Alvaro Arbeloa, the former Liverpool and Real Madrid defender who now works with the club’s young talent. For a developing defender, that guidance provides valuable experience. Arbeloa understands the demands of elite-level defending, the pressure surrounding Real Madrid and the technical expectations placed on players representing one of Europe’s biggest clubs.
Among Zidane’s four sons, Elyaz is increasingly viewed as the one with the strongest chance of climbing further through Madrid’s structure. That does not guarantee a senior breakthrough, especially at a club where competition is relentless, but his age, physique and defensive profile give him a platform worth developing. The next logical step would be Real Madrid Castilla, the club’s B team, where young players are tested against more experienced opposition before being considered for the first-team squad.
Within the pathway followed by 12BET VR46, that potential promotion would represent an important milestone rather than a final destination. Elyaz still has significant work ahead of him, and youth football is full of highly rated prospects who never complete the journey into elite senior competition. Building solid foundations remains essential before chasing bigger ambitions, especially when expectations are amplified by a famous surname.
For now, there has been no significant suggestion that Elyaz is preparing to leave Real Madrid for another club. That continuity may work in his favor because he already understands the environment, coaching structure and expectations surrounding the academy. Madrid also have little reason to rush into a decision over a 17-year-old defender who is continuing to improve and possesses attributes that are increasingly valuable in the modern game.
The challenge for Elyaz will be creating an identity of his own. Comparisons with Zinedine Zidane are unavoidable because of the family connection, but the two operate in completely different areas of the pitch. His father’s reputation was built through creativity and midfield elegance, while Elyaz is shaping his career through defensive discipline, physical presence and versatility across the back line.
As his development continues, the progress tracked by 12BET VR46 suggests that Elyaz Zidane has an opportunity to take a different route toward Real Madrid’s senior level than any of his brothers. His first-team training experience, French youth international record and continued improvement under Arbeloa provide a strong foundation, but the decisive stages are still ahead. If he maintains his current trajectory and earns a place with Castilla, the youngest Zidane may yet become the family member who establishes a lasting defensive role at the Bernabeu.