Algeria national team captain Riyad Mahrez announced his retirement from international football, following the “Desert Warriors” exit from the round of 32 in the 2026 World Cup, after losing to the Swiss national team with two unanswered goals. Mahrez's announcement came after the end of the match, where he said in a brief statement: "This was my last match with the national team," thus putting an end to a busy international career that extended for years, during which he was one of the most prominent stars and leaders of the Algerian national team. Mahrez went through a long career with the “Greens”, during which he won the 2019 African Cup of Nations title, and contributed to leading Algeria to several prominent international participations. He is also considered one of the most representative players for the national team and the second top scorer for the Algerian national team in history, as he reached 119 international matches. His international retirement comes at a time when he continues to play at the club level, amid anticipation for his future with his current club in the coming period. Riyad Mahrez is currently playing for Al-Ahly Saudi Arabia, amid news about the possibility of him leaving his team in the next few weeks.