Riyad Mahrez
#7 · Forward · age 35 · (C)
Confirmed 2026 will be his final World Cup; reached 100-cap milestone in 2025
87
WC26 rating
- Recent form
- 65
- Career peak
- 100
- League level
- 75
- Competition pedigree
- 98
- International pedigree
- 100
- Longevity
- 74
Independent rating — league strength (Opta-anchored) × competition tier × position-normalized output. Not affiliated with EA or FIFA.
Career by season
Source: transfermarkt + sofascore · fetched 2026-05-29
Mahrez is Algeria’s symbolic leader on what he has confirmed will be his last international tournament. Vladimir Petković’s system is built around getting him on the ball in the right half-space, with Aït-Nouri or Hadjam overlapping on the left to stretch the play and Amoura running the channels in front.
Group J presents a tough draw — Algeria are heavy underdogs against Argentina and a fascinating match-up with Austria — but the captain’s set-piece quality and ability to conjure a moment in tight games may be the deciding factor in whether Les Fennecs survive the group. At 35 his minutes will be managed; expect him to start every match but be substituted before full-time when matches are settled.
Strengths
- Left-footed cuts in from the right flank — the signature move of his career
- Set-piece delivery on direct free kicks and corners
- Veteran composure — Algeria's senior leader in the dressing room
Recent form
Al-Ahli's primary creator through the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League season; ended CAF qualifying with three goals and seven assists.
Born in Sarcelles in the Paris suburbs to an Algerian father and Moroccan mother; he chose Algeria after originally being in French youth setups.