Riyad Mahrez has announced his retirement from international football after Algeria were knocked out of the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the Round of 32. The decision came following their 2-0 loss to Switzerland on Thursday, which ended his long and distinguished career with the national team.
Switzerland delivered a strong performance to secure their place in the Round of 16. Breel Embolo opened the scoring in the 10th minute, finishing from a precise cross delivered by Johan Manzambi. Dan Ndoye then doubled the lead just after half-time in the 46th minute. Despite Algeria’s attempts to respond, they were unable to break through Switzerland’s organised defence, as the European side controlled the match to seal a comfortable victory.
Speaking after the match, Mahrez confirmed his decision to step away from international football. “This was my final match for the national team,” he told beIN Sports.
Mahrez ends his international career with 119 appearances for Algeria, scoring 40 goals and registering 45 assists. Over the years, he was a central figure for the national team, most notably helping Algeria win the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019. He was also named African Footballer of the Y