Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez announces he is retiring from international football after Algeria are eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup by Switzerland. Multiple outlets report that Algeria lose 2-0 to Switzerland in the Round of 32, with Mahrez making the decision immediately after the match. BBC Football, Yahoo Sports and other sources describe Mahrez confirming his retirement as he walked off the pitch, and one report attributes the confirmation to Mahrez’s message via BeIN Sports (citing Fabrizio Romano).
Across the reports, Mahrez’s Algeria international career is described as spanning about 12 years, ending with the Switzerland defeat. The statistics cited in several sources include 119 caps, 40 goals, and 45 assists. Several outlets also highlight that Mahrez won the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations with Algeria. At the time of the announcement, he is reported to be playing club football for Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia and is noted for earlier success in England, including Premier League titles.
