Riyad Mahrez has officially announced his retirement from international football following Algeria’s elimination from the Round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup at the hands of Switzerland.
The Algerian national team faced harsh criticism due to their underwhelming performances throughout the group stage, leading up to the Switzerland clash—a match Mahrez himself admitted was well within their reach.
Speaking after the game, the Al-Ahli Saudi winger said: “This was my final match with the Algerian national team. It is time to bring my international career to an end. I am proud to have given everything I could over the past 12 years.”
He added: “I have passed the torch to the new generation so they can showcase their potential in the best way possible. I want to thank everyone who supported me throughout my journey with Algeria.”
Commenting on the defeat, he continued: “The Switzerland match was within our grasp, and our goal was to qualify for the next round. However, we conceded two goals due to errors, and in a tournament like the World Cup, you pay for any mistake immediately.”
He concluded: “There are positives to take from this campaign, most notably advancing from the group stage. However, our main struggle was conceding goals, which ultimately cost us dearly.”
The 35-year-old Mahrez began his international career with Algeria in 2014. Since then, he has earned 119 caps across all competitions, scoring 40 goals and providing 45 assists, while famously captaining the Desert Warriors to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations title.
