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Riyad Mahrez announces retirement from Algerian team after World Cup elimination
Teams 4 July 2026

Riyad Mahrez announces retirement from Algerian team after World Cup elimination

Riyad Mahrez ends his international career immediately after Algeria's elimination from the 2026 World Cup. Mahrez ends his career with the national team with 119 international matches and an African Cup of Nations to his name.

Riyad Mahrez has officially announced his retirement as an international player for Algeria. The 35-year-old attacker did this just after the 2-0 defeat against Switzerland in the eighth finals of the 2026 World Cup. This ends an impressive era for the Algerian national team.

Mahrez, who made a total of 119 appearances for his country, is seen as an icon of Algerian football. The absolute highlight of his international career was winning the African Cup of Nations in 2019. In particular, his memorable free kick against Nigeria in the semi-final of that tournament is still remembered by many football fans.

![Image](https://s.yimg.com/lo/mysterio/api/9ce608b63d3dc22151d469a790f5144716d8d5aa4d6be1c2391658863f25157e/lightyear_networkapi/re sizefill_w1200;quality_80;format_webp/https:%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Fonefootball_articles_802%2Fb253e376ddde0d6896f7cadd1851f521)

The winger was the face of "De Woestijnvossen" for many years and led his team to success at international level several times. His retirement comes after a disappointing result at the 2026 World Cup, where Algeria lost to Switzerland in the first knockout round.

With his decision to retire from the national team, Mahrez leaves behind an indelible legacy. His number of international matches and contributions make him one of the greatest players in Algerian football history.


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