Riyad Mahrez ruled out extending his international career into his 40s, as did Cristiano Ronaldo. He declared that the 2026 World Cup will be his last after leading Algeria to a fifth appearance at the tournament.
The 34-year-old winger, who plays for Al-Ahli – the reigning Asian champions – scored once and assisted twice in Algeria’s 3-0 win over Somalia in the penultimate round of African qualifying, securing top spot in Group G and a place in next year’s finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
«This will be my last World Cup. I am not Ronaldo (40),» Mahrez told the Algerian media.
“I will give everything I have to represent Algeria in the best possible way.”
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Mahrez, who turns 35 in February, has now scored 33 goals in 106 international appearances. He praised his teammates, coach and fans for their support, saying the team “dominated from start to finish” and the focus now shifts to the Africa Cup of Nations.
“I thank God for this important victory,” he said. «I’m happy to have helped with two assists, but the most important thing is that we have officially qualified.»
Algeria has now qualified for the World Cup for the fifth time, after appearances in 1982, 1986, 2010 and 2014. Its best performance came in 2014 in Brazil, where it reached the round of 16 for the first time before falling to eventual champions Germany in extra time.
Published on October 10, 2025
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