Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The final whistle had barely faded at BC Place when Riyad Mahrez, standing before the cameras of beIN SPORTS, delivered the words that brought an end to an era. "I confirm, this was my last competition, it's over." Just minutes earlier, Algeria had been eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, falling 2-0 to Switzerland in the round of 32, and with that defeat, one of the greatest careers in African football history came to a quiet, poignant close.
The 35-year-old captain, who had been withdrawn from the action with 20 minutes still to play, cut a visibly crestfallen figure as he made the announcement live on television. His face told the story of a man who had given everything, but who knew, in that moment, that the time had come. "Our aim was to go through and I think it was a game we could have won," Mahrez reflected. "But we conceded twice on mistakes and at this level, you can't get away with it." He added: "There are always positives to take away from matches: we did manage to get out of the group stage, but we conceded too many goals to aspire to more."
It was a cruel end to a campaign that had promised so much. Mahrez had enjoyed his finest World Cup this summer, registering three goal involvements in four matches — scoring twice against Austria and providing an assist against Jordan — with no Algerian player ever recording more in a single edition of the tournament. He also became the second-oldest African player to start a World Cup knockout match. But the magic that had propelled Algeria through the group stage deserted them on the night when it mattered most. Breel Embolo and Dan Ndoye scored in either half to secure Switzerland's victory, sending the Swiss through to face either Colombia or Ghana in the round of 16, and sending the Desert Foxes home.
For Mahrez, the defeat marked the end of a 12-year international journey that began when he chose to represent Algeria in 2013, having been born in France. He made his debut just before the 2014 World Cup and went on to establish himself as one of the greatest players in the nation's history. He leaves the Algeria national team with 119 caps and 40 goals, the second-highest totals in the country's history, behind only Aissa Mandi's 123 appearances and Islam Slimani's 49 goals. He also provided 45 assists, a combination of end product and playmaking that is rare for a wide player. He was the go-to option in transition, the calm passer under pressure, and the late-game set-piece threat.
His greatest moment came in 2019, when he captained Algeria to Africa Cup of Nations glory, memorably scoring a stoppage-time free-kick in the semi-final against Nigeria before his side beat Senegal in the final to lift their first continental title since 1990. At the club level, Mahrez's trophy cabinet is the stuff of legend. He won five Premier League titles — one with Leicester City in one of football's greatest fairy tales, and four with Manchester City. He also lifted the UEFA Champions League trophy during his time at the Etihad, part of the club's historic Treble-winning campaign in 2022-23, and won a host of other domestic honours. He currently plays for Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia.
As he walked off the field following the match, Mahrez gave a thumbs-up, then patted his heart and waved to the fans. "There were good times and difficult times as well, of course. That's part of a career," he said afterward. "But representing Algeria has been a dream of mine ever since I was young, to play for my country. It's been an immense honour and a great source of pride. It is the new generation's turn to play."
In Vancouver, a nation's hope came to an end, and a legend said goodbye. Riyad Mahrez departs the international stage not with a trophy, but with something perhaps more enduring: the knowledge that he gave everything he had, and that he will be remembered as one of the greatest players ever to wear the green and white of Algeria.
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