"It's my last appearance even with the national team. It was my last game." Riyad Mahrez said that immediately after Algeria's 0-2 defeat to Switzerland in the World Cup round of 32 on 2026-07-03, turning a tournament exit into the end of his international career. He finished the night with 71 minutes played and a 5.88 rating in his final Algeria appearance.
Mahrez's final night
Mahrez did not dress it up. He also said: "The goal was to progress, and I think it was a game that was within our reach. We conceded two goals on mistakes, and at this level, we pay dearly for that." That is the mood of the night, a loss defined by errors and then by the captain's decision to walk away from international football.
The retirement ends a 12-year Algeria career. Mahrez leaves with 120 caps and 40 goals, numbers that put him among the national team's most important players over the last decade and more. He also captained Algeria to Africa Cup of Nations glory in 2019, including the stoppage-time free-kick against Nigeria in the semi-final.
What he leaves behind
His final World Cup was not a quiet one. Mahrez produced three goal involvements in four matches, with two goals against Austria and an assist against Jordan. That was his best return at a World Cup for Algeria, even if the final match ended in a 0-2 loss to Switzerland.
The contrast is stark enough without overplaying it. Mahrez bowed out after a tournament that showed his quality and a night that ended badly. The immediate next step for Algeria is simply to move on from the captain who had been their reference point for years.
Switzerland vs Algeria closed his international story in the round of 32, and the record now sits with 120 caps and 40 goals.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →
