Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez has announced his retirement from international football following his country’s 2-0 defeat to Switzerland in the Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 35-year-old confirmed after the match that the defeat marked the end of his 12-year international career with the Desert Foxes.
“Our goal was to progress, and I think it was a game within our reach. We conceded two goals from mistakes, and at this level, you pay dearly for them,” Mahrez said after the match.
When asked if the game was his final World Cup appearance, the former Leicester City and Manchester City winger replied, “It’s my last appearance even with the national team. It was my last game.”
Mahrez retires as one of Algeria’s most accomplished footballers, finishing with 120 international appearances and 40 goals. He ranks second on the country’s all-time appearances list behind Aïssa Mandi and is also second on the all-time scoring chart, behind Islam Slimani.
One of the highlights of his international career came in 2019 when he captained Algeria to the Africa Cup of Nations title. He scored a dramatic stoppage-time free-kick against Nigeria in the semi-finals before leading his team to victory over Senegal in the final to secure Algeria’s first continental crown since 1990.
Mahrez also enjoyed his best World Cup campaign at the 2026 tournament, contributing two goals and one assist in four matches. His three goal involvements are the joint-highest by an Algerian player in a single World Cup edition.
Born in France, Mahrez chose to represent Algeria in 2013 and made his international debut ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Over the next decade, he established himself as one of the greatest players in the country’s football history, earning more than 100 caps and helping Algeria reach the knockout stage of the World Cup and win the Africa Cup of Nations.
