Riyad Mahrez has confirmed that the 2026 World Cup will mark the end of his international career. The Algerian captain said he has no plans to continue playing into his forties like Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 34-year-old winger led Algeria to their fifth qualification for the tournament after a 3-0 victory over Somalia in the African qualifiers. Playing for Al-Ahli, the reigning Asian champions, Mahrez scored once and provided two assists in the crucial match that secured Algeria’s top spot in Group G.
“This will be my last World Cup. I’m not Ronaldo (40),” Mahrez said in a lighthearted comment to Algerian media. “I’ll give everything I have to represent Algeria in the best possible way.”
With 33 goals in 106 international appearances, Mahrez remains one of Algeria’s most influential players. He praised his teammates and coach for their unity and effort, adding that the team “dominated from start to finish.” Mahrez also expressed gratitude to the fans, saying their support played a big role in qualification.
Algeria will join other African teams at the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The expanded tournament will feature more teams than ever before, giving African nations a greater chance to progress.
Reflecting on his journey, Mahrez said the focus now turns to the Africa Cup of Nations before preparing for the global stage. Algeria’s previous best performance came in 2014 in Brazil, when they reached the round of 16 before losing to eventual champions Germany in extra time.
As Mahrez prepares for his final appearance at the 2026 World Cup, fans across Algeria are celebrating both his achievements and the team’s success in returning to football’s biggest event.
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