Riyad Mahrez Bows Out After 119 Caps
Algeria Captain Ends Career Following Defeat to Switzerland
Mahrez, a five-time Premier League champion, was substituted in the second half with 20 minutes remaining and confirmed after the match that it would be his final appearance for the national team.
‘The goal was to progress, and I think it was a game that was within our reach,’ Mahrez said. ‘We conceded two goals on mistakes, and at this level, we pay dearly for that. It’s my last appearance even with the national team. It was my last game.’
The 35-year-old forward retires with 119 caps, the second-most in Algerian history, and 40 goals, also the second-highest tally for the national side.
His international career included the crowning achievement of winning the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, a triumph that cemented his place among Algeria’s greatest players.
Mahrez will now focus on his club career with Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli, as he enters the final years of a journey that saw him rise to prominence at Leicester City before becoming a key figure in Manchester City’s era of dominance.
His retirement marks the end of an era for Algerian football, with Mahrez leaving the international stage as one of its most decorated and influential figures.
