The large victory of the Algerian team last night against Guatemala did not happen without its historic captain, Riyad Mahrez. Scorer from the penalty spot, the former Manchester City man consolidates his position as runner-up in the historic ranking of Green scorers and sends a barely veiled message to … Islam Slimani!
Reacting in an Instagram story after this resounding success for the Greens (7-0), Riyad Mahrez shared a ranking that highlights him. Behind Slimani, the Algerian team’s historic top scorer with 46 goals, Mahrez, author of 38 goals, is only 8 lengths from the record. It’s hard not to see a barely veiled message between the two former Leicester players. Thus, the challenge of removing Slimani from his throne will be thrilling for Mahrez, but clarifications must be made.
Algeria team: Can Mahrez beat Slimani’s record?
If we rely on the Greens’ schedule and the statements of Mahrez, who announced his international retirement after the 2026 World Cup, six matches await him soon. Eight goals in six games remain possible if Mahrez displays an exceptional level and formidable efficiency, with a theoretical average of 1.5 goals per match. An ambitious challenge, perhaps utopian, but not impossible on paper.
Algeria team: Mahrez is already in history, but can hope for even better
For what promises to be his last major international competition with the Greens, Mahrez can also aim for another record: that of the most capped player in the history of the Algerian team. With 112 selections, he is only one unit behind Aïssa Mandi, the historic holder with 113 appearances. Another impressive statistic: Mahrez is already the best passer in the history of the Greens with 39 decisive passes. In total, with 77 decisive actions, Riyad Mahrez is the most influential and decisive player in the history of the Algerian team.
READ ALSO: Algeria-Guatemala (7-0): A success, yes… but not the most historic of the Greens
