Riyad Mahrez, who is among the most decorated footballers in Africa, confirmed that the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, will be his last appearance in the Algeria national team. The Al Ahli winger who is 34 years old revealed the information after he assisted Algeria beat Somalia 3-0 and he assisted one and scored another in the resounding win.
The news of Mahrez did not come as a surprise to many, as he had a very long and glorious international career. The former Manchester City star has been the driving force behind the Desert Foxes since his debut in 2014 and guided them to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations title and is now making their automatic qualification to the 2026 tournament possible.
Mahrez joked after the game saying he is not like Cristiano Ronaldo. But I will sacrifice it all to be a good representative of my country one more time.
The 33 goals in 106 caps he earned place him among the greatest Algerian players of all time, along with such legends as Rabah Madjer and Lakhdar Belloumi. The fans swamped social media with tributes naming his move as the end of the era.
In the meantime, Mahrez demands that the attention should be turned to the Africa Cup of Nations where he is hoping to win another silverware prior to his retirement. Mahrez may or may not retire with another trophy on his hands but his impact on Algerian football will never be forgotten, a blend of brilliance, leadership and humility that made a generation of people dream.
