Mezian Soares called up to Portugal under-21 squad

Mezian Soares, a midfielder playing for Lens, has been called up to the Portugal national under-21 team by coach Luís Freire. Soares is one of the youngest players in the history of the squad, ranking only behind Chalana and Diogo Costa in terms of age at the time of their first call-ups.

Soares is the son of former Algerian international Walid Mesloub and a Portuguese mother. While he is also eligible to represent France and Algeria, he has been selected for the Portuguese youth setup. His inclusion follows a trend under Freire, who has called up 11 players under the age of 20 since taking charge, including players like Daniel Banjaqui and Mateus Mané.

By joining the under-21 squad now, Soares remains eligible for future cycles, including the 2027 and 2029 European Championships.