Former Manchester City star Riyad Mahrez has officially announced his retirement from international football after Algeria’s FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign came to a heartbreaking end against Switzerland.
The veteran winger signed off from the biggest stage in football, bringing down the curtains on a glorious career that made him one of the greatest players in Algeria’s history.
As Mahrez walked off the pitch after the final whistle, he gave a thumbs-up to the supporters before patting his heart and waving towards the stands. The emotional gesture was enough to tell fans that they had witnessed his final appearance in Algeria’s famous green jersey.
Speaking after the match, Mahrez reflected on his journey with the national team. “There were good times and difficult times as well, of course. That’s part of a career. But representing Algeria has been a dream of mine ever since I was young, to play for my country. It’s been an immense honor and a great source of pride,” he said.
He further confirmed that it was time to move on, adding, “It is the new generation’s turn to play.”
Algeria’s Loss Against Switzerland
Algeria’s World Cup dream came to an end after suffering defeat against Switzerland in the knockout stage. Despite fighting until the final whistle, the Desert Foxes failed to find a way back into the contest as Switzerland held their nerve to book a place in the round of 16, marking the end of Mahrez’s splendid international career.
Riyad Mahrez’s International Records
International Career Overview
Appearances: 119 caps for Algeria
Goals: 40 international goals
Assists: 45 assists
Major Trophy: Africa Cup of Nations champion (2019)
Individual Honours: CAF African Footballer of the Year (2016) and two-time Algerian Footballer of the Year
List Of Historic Records
Algeria’s All-Time Assist Leader: Mahrez finishes his international career as Algeria’s greatest-ever creator with 45 assists.
Most Goals In Major Tournaments: He became the first Algerian footballer to score 11 goals across major tournaments, netting nine times in the Africa Cup of Nations and twice in the FIFA World Cup.
Algeria’s AFCON Top Scorer: Mahrez scored nine goals across four Africa Cup of Nations editions, making him Algeria’s highest scorer in the tournament’s history.
Second Most-Capped Algerian Player: His 119 appearances rank second on Algeria’s all-time list, behind only defender Aïssa Mandi.
Oldest Algeria World Cup Goalscorer:During the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage, Mahrez became Algeria’s oldest-ever World Cup goalscorer at 35 years and four months.
Only Second Algerian To Score A World Cup Brace: His two-goal performance against Austria at the 2026 FIFA World Cup made him just the second Algerian player to score a brace in a World Cup match after Salah Assad.
Captain Of Algeria’s Historic AFCON Triumph: Mahrez led the Desert Foxes to their memorable 2019 Africa Cup of Nations title, ending the country’s 29-year wait for the continental crown.
Mahrez leaves international football as one of Algeria’s finest-ever players. From lifting the AFCON trophy to rewriting the nation’s record books, the winger’s legacy will remain etched in Algerian football history for years to come.