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Algeria captain, Riyad Mahrez has retired from international football following the Desert Foxes’ 2-0 defeat to Switzerland in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 on Friday at BC Place.
The 35-year-old confirmed his decision in a post-match interview with beIN Sports, ending a 12-year career with Algeria.
“This was my last match with Algeria,” Mahrez said. “Our aim was to go through, and I think it was a game we could have won. But we conceded twice from mistakes and, at this level, you can’t get away with it.”
Switzerland secured victory through goals from Breel Embolo and Dan Ndoye in either half.
Mahrez was substituted in the second half with 20 minutes remaining.
He had earlier scored a brace in Algeria’s 3-3 group-stage draw with Austria that helped the team reach the knockout stage.
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The 2-0 loss to Switzerland ensured Algeria fell short of matching their best-ever World Cup run, having reached the round of 16 in 2014.
Switzerland advanced to face Colombia or Ghana in the last 16.
Mahrez finished with 120 caps and 40 goals for Algeria, becoming his country’s second-most capped player, behind only team-mate Aissa Mandi’s 123 appearances, and second on the all-time scoring list, trailing only Islam Slimani’s 49.
He captained the side to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations title.
At 35 years and 131 days, he became the second-oldest African player to start a World Cup knockout-stage match.
The Al Ahli winger had previously said the 2026 tournament would be his last World Cup, telling Algerian media: “This will be my last World Cup. I’m not Ronaldo”.
