Mahrez announces retirement after Algeria's World Cup exit

Algeria's World Cup campaign came to an end in the Round of 32 with a 2-0 defeat to Switzerland in Toronto on Friday morning, July 3. Following the elimination, captain Riyad Mahrez announced his retirement from international football.

Speaking to broadcaster beIN Sports after the match, Mahrez said, "This was my last match for the national team."

From 2014 to 2026, Mahrez played 119 matches for Algeria over a decade-long international career, scoring 40 goals and providing 45 assists. In this World Cup alone, he scored a brace against Austria, nearly securing victory with a goal in the third minute of stoppage time before Austria equalised at the death.

The 3-3 draw with Austria saw Algeria qualify for the Round of 32 as third place in Group J. Their journey ended there.

Switzerland, meanwhile, made history by reaching the last 16 for the first time since 1954 with goals from Breel Embolo and Dan Ndoye in the 10th and 46th minutes.